Get the Best Deals Online First:

Whatever mom’s hobby – we have tons of ideas
to help you find a great gift that will make her smile on Mother’s day.

#1 Help
your Mom stay beautiful

Every mom loves to be pampered.
If you are not sure what to get your mom on mother’s day then beauty products
are always a winner!

Our favourites are manicure & pedicure
sets, makeup brushes, eye masks. If you do not have much to spend fun nail
polish, decals, or even a makeup holder are wonderful ideas. You could even get
a new cosmetics bag – there are tons of funky designs to choose from.

Does your mom love to cook? From beautiful
plates to fun gadgets there are dozens of gift ideas you can get her.

If you are on a tight budget a beautiful new
apron or kitchen accessory makes a perfect gift. If you have a bit more to
splash out on a gift for your mother then knife set, juicers, or kitchen gift
sets are great.

Last year I got my mom a veggie spiralizer and
she loved the healthy meals she could make with it.

How about getting her some new gardening
gloves, a lovely flower pot or even a pretty gardening tool set.

A really popular product that is trending right now is garden torches and
lanterns. These look great in summer or winter. No garden? How about a new vase
or flower pot for the window. These are really simple but will make mom happy!

Anything that makes your home prettier will
bring a smile on mother’s day.

Our favourite gift ideas include throws, cushions and fun home accessories.
Recently essential oil diffusers have become super popular, they are not that
expensive and turn every room from a plain room to a wonderful scent. If mom
already has a diffuser then she would love some new essential oils.

Every mom loves food. From fun table mats to a
lovely new plate set – dining gifts are always popular. Get your mom a new mug,
apron, salt & pepper shaker set. You don’t have to spend a fortune to find
a nice gift.

Something as simple as some new place mats or
a colourful table cover will make mom happy. Have a look around your home or
ask your friends moms for ideas on what to get for your mother.

She will love a sporty gift. From yoga mats to
a new training gadget there are literally hundreds of things you could get. We
recommend yoga pants, microfiber towels and running belts. These are all
relatively cheap gifts but super practical!

A really cool product I got recently was
stretch bands. They have really helped me become more flexible – and are
perfect for runners, yoga lovers and all sporty moms!

Have a think about what you mom loves to do
when she has a little bit of free time – we know how busy moms can get! Then
try to think of a gift that matches her interests – it doesn’t have to be big
but your mother will appreciate you thinking about her gift for this special
day!

There are more ways to make money from home
than ever before. So if you don’t like waking up to an alarm clock and
answering to a boss, I want you to know – there’s a better way!

In today’s article I will show you 4 easy ways you can start making money from home right away.

Food and Grocery Delivery Service

For food delivery, apps like door dash,
Grubhub, and Instacart, are all great places to start. All you have to do is go
to the restaurant that your phone tells you to go to. They will then give you
the food that’s been ordered, and you deliver it to the person who ordered it.
follow the instructions on your phone to deliver it.

Grocery delivery is even more popular right
now. You can use a service like Instacart to shop for people and drop it off
safely to their home. This service is so popular right now, that I guarantee
you will be fully booked all day if you have the capacity for it. This can help
you save a considerable amount of money during this crisis.

Freelance Skills

These days, more and more companies are
looking to outsource work. It’s a lot cheaper than paying for an entire office!
If you have the type of skills they are looking for, this can not only be a
great side gig, it can turn into a completely new career.

So what kind of skills are in demand? Well
one of the most popular is freelance writing. Websites all over the world
require millions of pages of content written every single day. although you
might not consider yourself a writer, if you completed high school English,
you’re good enough. In fact, many of the most popular writers are non-native
English speakers. So if you have a decent grass with the language, and can
write naturally, that puts you far ahead.

You could also be an editor. You can read
others’ writings and correct them for spelling and grammar. If you’re a graphic
designer, that skill is in high demand as well. As is web design and
programming.

Don’t think you have any freelance skills?
Well, head over to one of the more popular freelance websites and see for
yourself. People are hiring for so many different jobs these days that I can
practically guarantee you’ll find something you can do.

The best websites are Upwork.com,
Fiverr.com, and Freelancer.com.

Sell Some of your Excess Stuff

This might not be considered a side gig,
but it’s a great way to make some extra cash quick. The truth is, most of us
have way more stuff than we need. If you really look through your stuff
seriously, I know you’ll find a lot you can sell. In fact, you’ll be surprised
at how much you can get rid of.

Even better, when you add all this together,
it can add up to a decent chunk of change.

The best places to sell your extra stuff is
Facebook marketplace and craigslist. The most important aspect of selling your
goods fast is to take quality pictures. So go somewhere where the lighting is
the best in order to get the best possible picture. Write a brief description
and be sure to include what kind of quality the item is in.

Publish Content on the Vipon V Show

We recently released a brand-new feature to
Vipon.com. It’s called the “V Show”. It’s a lot like YouTube. Anyone can upload
great content. And then we’ll show it to our audience.

The difference? It’s a lot easier to earn
money on the V Show than youtube! We pay based on likes. So if you get 10 likes
to your video/article, you can earn $1. The better your video/article, the more
likes you’ll get… and the more money you can make. If you can crack the code to
our audience, you won’t just make money… you’ll get famous.

In Conclusion

This might seem like difficult and scary
times. And while they are, every cloud has a silver lining. The silver lining
to this crisis may be that you find a brand-new way to start making money. I
hope this article gave you some concrete ways to get started. If you follow the
advice I’ve given you, you’ll either find the right opportunity, or you’ll be
in the right direction. Don’t give up and before you know it, you’ll be making
more money on the side than you thought possible.

Are you looking to earn some extra money
online? Vipon has an amazing new opportunity for you! And… you could even get
famous.

As you know, millions of people
are now making full-time incomes online. YouTubers, influencers, and internet
celebrities at throwing their alarm clocks away, traveling the world, and
getting paid handsomely to do so.

Now it’s your turn.

With Vipon’s new feature, the “V Show”,
you’ll now have a real chance at earning a nice side income for making
content!

What is the V Show?

Every day, over 10s of thousands of
people visit Vipon. We are one of the largest Amazon coupon websites in the world. And we
continue to grow every single month.

Recently, we wanted to provide our visitors
with more than just amazing deals. We also want to entertain them, teach them
new skills, and improve their lives. The way we’re doing this is with the V
Show.

With the V Show, anyone can upload a video or article. We will then feature it on our homepage. Then our daily visitors will see your content. If they “like” it, your content will be shown even more. Popular content creators can expect to get thousands of views very quickly.

Get Paid For Your Content

We plan to reward our creators handsomely.
For now, you can get paid $1 for every 10 “likes”. When your video is seen
thousands of times, these likes add up quickly.

You can withdraw money from your account
after the balance reaches $10. If you consistently upload high quality video,
you can expect this to be a brand-new income stream that’s independent of your
current job or location. Since many people are choosing to stay home right now,
this is the perfect time to start your new career.

Imagine having a blast recording a video…
knowing it’s going to make you money. Imagine wanting to buy something, and
knowing all you have to do is make a content and its yours. This kind of life is now
possible for you with the all-new V Show!

What Kind of Content Can You Upload?

We intend for the V show to be a diverse
entertainment network. You can write articles, post pictures, or videos. In
general, videos will likely spread better.

You can also upload old videos that you’ve
recorded. In other words, you don’t need to create brand new content. However,
you cannot upload someone else’s content and claim it as your own. If we find
you’ve done this, your video/article will be deleted, and any likes and
money you’ve earned from it will be canceled. Also, if you create
content that breaks our guidelines (is violent or adult oriented), we will
remove the content and cancel the payments.

Other than that… it’s up to you what kind
of content you want to upload!

A Way for Influencers to Exponentially
Boost Their Audience

Are you already a well-known social media
influencer? If so, the V Show can take your brand and career to the next level.
By publishing great content, you can quickly add thousands of new views to your
videos every single day.
Of course we will tell people what your brand is, so it will grow your audience
across every platform.

How to Upload Content？

Adding your content to the V show couldn’t be easier. Here’s how it’s done:

Once your content
is added, users will be able to watch it. The more people who “like” your content, the more we will show it. People will be able
to share your content on social media websites
like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and more. This means a good content will be seen by many people all over the world.

In Conclusion

We believe that the show will quickly
become the most popular part of our website. Even though we already get
thousands of unique visitors every day, this could push that number to
millions. We are in the very early stages of the V Show. Which means if you get
in now, you can get a huge chunk of traffic, build an audience, and perfectly
positioned yourself to grow your career as we grow too.

We will be spending significant resources
promoting this section of our website. So don’t delay . Create your Vipon
account right now and start uploading content. See what our audience responds
to. See what people like. Get paid when people like your content. And change
your life.

We need
to take immediate, drastic measures to make sure we’re not seeing the
worst-case scenario. The good news? There’s still time.

In
today’s article, I am going to give you a few tips to put the odds in your
favor of getting through this disease.

It’s Time to Change Our Behavior

This
virus spreads incredibly quickly. So much so that we have limited options to
protect ourselves. Washing your hands is a simple weapon against the virus.
But, believe it or not, there’s a right way and wrong way to do it. The wrong way is to splash soap on your
hands and briefly wash it off. Instead, you should vigorously cover your hands
with soap. Make sure to get your thumbs, in-between fingers, and the front and
back of your home. Then, use the water to wash your hands vigorously for 20
seconds. It’s more thorough than you’re probably used to. But it’s the best way
to keep yourself safe.

However, there’s evidence the virus spreads
through the air. If this is the case, we really only have ONE effective
measure… avoid crowds.

Yes, it’s
difficult. However, if you’re able to stay indoors much more than usual, you
drop your odds of picking up the virus. Soon, of those who DO get the virus,
many will recover. They will then see an immunity which will help stop the
spread of the virus further.

Protect Vulnerable People

This virus
CLEARLY affects older people more than young. Although young aren’t
invulnerable, they seem to get over it quickly. And for many it’s like a basic
cold more than anything. For this reason, if you are over the age of 60… or
have family members who are over the age of 60… PLEASE impress on them the
importance of avoiding crowds.

I don’t
want to cause panic, but this could literally be life or death. This is not the
time we can be casual. It’s an inconvenience. But we NEED to change. Now.

Emergency Prep Best Practices

The best
way to get through an emergency is to be prepared. Although there is some good
news with the virus, we still need to be prepared for the worse. It’s never a
bad idea to have 2 weeks of spare food on hand. This can help buy time in the
event of a worst case scenario.

Practice Meticulous Hygiene

It goes
without saying that washing your hands is important. ANYTIME you leave the
house, be sure you DO NOT touch your face until you’ve washed your hands
thoroughly. Leave shoes in the entryway. If possible, immediately change into
clean clothes and put dirty clothes into a trash bag for washing.

I know…
it’s inconvenient. But the unfortunate reality is this is VERY serious. We will
be inconvenienced. If you don’t want to experience that, I feel for you… but
you are putting yourself and others at MAJOR risk.

Other Helpful Items

Soap and
hand sanitizer is a must for killing the virus (generally speaking, you don’t
need both). And there are some other items that can help protect you too. N95
masks have proven to be effective against the virus. However, those will likely
be in short supply as we need those for healthcare workers first. Also, latex
gloves will help protect the virus from getting in through devices everyone
touches, like phones, atms, self-checkout, etc.

Medicine/Vaccine Development

We have
scientists working around the clock right now trying to figure out how to fight
this thing. The only problem is, even in the best case scenario, these
medicines take time to roll out. If we rush it, we risk giving the public
something that actually harms them more than the virus! Can you imagine if we
vaccinated millions of people and it turned out to be worse? We can’t take that
chance. For this reason, even with the fastest technology and most expedited
process, we will not see a vaccine for at least a year.

Yes, it’s
sobering… yet here’s the better news.

Right
now, we have several anti-viral medications in clinical trials. We don’t know
if these will work or not. Yet we do have some that have worked with other
coronaviruses in the past. We will know in 30 days whether or not this medicine
is effective. If it is, we can mass produce it and we could severely reduce how
dangerous this virus is.

In Conclusion

I won’t
lie to you… these are scary times. However, the fact is, it could be worse.
Most people who get the virus recover from it. Please make sure to stock up on
food and other necessary supplies while you can. Prepare for the worst… hope
for the best.

Playing music is something that I believe
everyone should do. Why? Well, studies show that people who play music are
actually smarter than those who don’t. It has an effect on the brain that has
been shown to help you with everything else in your life. Yet more importantly,
playing music can be an incredible option for self-therapy. It’s an inexpensive
way to make your life better.

In today’s article, I’m going to give you 5
simple tips that will help you learn a musical instrument much faster than you
might think.

Learn How to Practice Effectively

The number one reason why most people don’t
learn a musical instrument, is because they don’t know how to practice.
Practicing isn’t easy. It takes discipline and dedication. But here’s the thing…

if you’re not capable of practicing a
musical instrument, you’re probably not capable of practicing anything else.
This means for your entire life, you will underperform at virtually everything
you do.

At the end of the day, practicing is
simple. You take something you can’t do, and you start out extremely slow. You
practice that thing over and over again, making sure that your attention is
focused in the moment. Overtime you get better and better at it , until before
you know it, you are unconsciously competent.

Now, if you’ve never practiced a musical
instrument before, you need to learn how to do it. Which brings me to my next
point.

Get a Good Teacher

Thanks to YouTube and the Internet, you can
learn a lot about music without ever having a teacher. But, you’ll miss the
most important part. Without a teacher, you risk never learning how to practice
in a way that is effective for you. In just a few lessons, a teacher can give
you a practice foundation that helps you for your entire musical Life. For this
reason, if you’re serious about music, get a teacher. You can find many quality
teachers for as low as $20 to $30 an hour.

A great way to find a good music teacher is
to simply ask people that you know are good at their instrument. If you admire
someone and the way they play, ask them who their teacher was. Then you can
know that you’re getting the best instruction possible.

Believe In Yourself

This might seem kind of abstract. But the
truth is, a musical instrument is not really that difficult. Most melodies are
simple and can be played even by beginners. The reason why most people struggle
with music is they are simply not confident. They may sit at a piano and feel
nervous, not knowing what to play. Instead of trusting their ears and looking
inward to see what they fill sounds good, they worry about what others will
think of them instead. The truth is, some of the best and most famous musicians
aren’t necessarily the most talented. Instead, they are simply the most
confident in their abilities. They can get up on stage and trust their heart.

Listen to (and Study) Music

If you think about good musicians
throughout time, one name that will consistently pop up is Mozart. He was the
very image of a child prodigy`. By the age of five he was already touring
around Europe playing for Kings. For this reason, some people believe that
Mozart was just gifted. He never had to study, and he never practiced.

Yet that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Even Mozart himself said that nobody had studied the great Masters of the past
as much as he did. And Joseph Haydn, himself a respectable, legendary composer,
and Mozart’s teacher, said that the reason why he was such a good composer, was
because of how much he listened to music.

When most people listen to music, they
listened to relax and enjoy. Of course, I recommend you do this too. But, also
take the time to study the music. Figure out what the writer is doing. You will
find that they repeat certain sections. You will find that they take breaks or
change the rhythm, to increase tension. When you really start to study music,
you’ll find that it isn’t rocket science.

Borrow Ideas From Your Favorites

“Bad artists copy. Great artists steal.” –
Pablo Picasso

There’s a common misconception in the world
of music then all the best musicians are totally original. In other words,
everything they wrote was brand new and never written before. But when you
actually start to study music, you realize this isn’t the case. In fact,
virtually every famous artist copied or in some cases directly stole some of
their best work.

Famously, the best-selling band Led
Zeppelin stole many of their most famous songs. Even there hit “stairway to
heaven”, was directly lifted from another musician. Of course, they made it
their own, and their version is very far from the original. But it goes to show
that when you listen to something you like you can imitate it in your own way.
This will form the foundation to writing your own material in the future.

In Conclusion

Learning music is a lifelong journey. Yet I
promise you this: it is easier to get started than you think. If you can get
over the initial practice hurdle, you’ll find yourself playing beautiful music.
At this point you’ll gain real joy out of playing, and it will be easy to continue and get better.

Thanks to the coronavirus, the world is
freaking out. The truth is, these epidemics take us by surprise. No one knows
how they work, and they take time to cure.

The good news is, the coronavirus is not
the worst virus we’ve ever experienced. And in all likelihood, it will clear up
in a few months.

In the meantime, I thought it would be
interesting to write about some of the other major viruses that have taking humanity
by surprise. I hope you find it as interesting as I did!

The Ebola Virus

In February of 2014, the Ebola virus was in
all the headlines. Due to the exotic nature of this disease, it was one of the
scariest epidemics the world has ever seen. The initial symptoms were fever,
body aches comma and diarrhea. But as the virus spread throughout the body, it
dealt significant damage to the immune system and organs.

In the final days of the virus, patients
would suffer from severe, uncontrollable bleeding. What made this virus so
scary, was the enormous death rate.

To put it into perspective, right now
experts believe the coronavirus has around a 2% death rate. And because we
don’t know how many minor cases there are, the reality is the death rate is probably
quite a bit lower than that. Which means most people who get the coronavirus
will survive. Ebola, on the other hand, originally had a near 100% death rate.
Fortunately, we’ve learned a lot about the disease since 2014 comma and we can
now treat it very effectively.

The Ebola virus did not
end up spreading to developed countries as experts initially feared. And I
think we can all be thankful for that!

The Rabies Virus

The rabies virus is incredibly rare. Yet it
remains one of these scariest viruses. Why? well, for starters, there is no
cure. There’s a vaccine you can get if you believe you have it. If you get this
vaccine in time it will prevent it. The problem is, rabies may show zero
symptoms for anywhere from 6 months to a year after you contracted it. and by
the time you show symptoms, it’s already too late.

Rabies is contracted from being bit by an
animal who also has the disease. Because of how serious this virus is, it is so
important to get your rabies shots if an animal bite has broken your skin.
Thankfully, in developed countries rabies is very, very rare.

The HIV Virus

The HIV virus is one of the most famous
viruses of all time. When people first started getting infected in the late
80s, no one knew why. Unlike diseases like the cold and flu, it was initially
impossible to figure out who you got it from. Scientists also had no idea how
it spread. They didn’t know if it was airborne, required physical contact, or
really anything else.

In addition, HIV is another virus that can
take anywhere from 6 months to a year to start showing symptoms. Today, we have
amazing treatments for patients with HIV. It’s no longer the death sentence it
once was. And some experts say it could be completely eradicated from the USA
just 10 years from now. Although the virus has been absolutely horrific, it has
led to some of the most effective antiviral treatments we have.

The Dengue Virus

The dengue virus is a virus that affects
poor, impoverished countries, much more than wealthy ones. First of all, this
disease is spread by mosquitoes. In the United States and other developed
countries, most mosquitoes are not carrying dengue. If you did happen to get
it, with proper medical treatment, it’s mainly just a severe flu.

Yet if you live in an area without medical
treatment comma the dengue virus has a mortality rate of 20%. The most common
symptom is a severe fever, leading to the name dengue fever.

The Polio Virus

The polio virus represents one of the most
frightening time periods in world history. Because of how the disease infects
the spinal chord, leading to paralysis, it was an incredibly scary disease to
be around for. Additionally, it would often infect children, who had their
entire lives ahead of them.

That being said, 72 out of 100 people who contracted
the polio virus showed no symptoms. So actual paralysis and death was rare. And
even in those who did become paralyzed, most survived. Still, the idea of
getting the disease caused mass spread panic.

Ironically, it’s believed that the better
hygiene in the early 1900s actually led to the spread of this disease. Because
if a child got polio very young, they still had help from their mother’s immune
system comma and could easily defeat the disease, granting them immunity for
life. Because of improved hygiene, children ended up getting the disease much
later. Without the support of their mother’s immune system, it turned into a
much bigger problem.

In Conclusion

Viruses are something we still deal with in
our day-to-day lives today. Thankfully, medical advances have made it so the
majority of us never need to worry about it. Although new viruses still happen,
they lead to new developments that make us even safer. Who knows, in the future
maybe our children won’t even know what the word virus means.

We all know we need to take a multi vitamin every day. Yet vitamins and minerals make up just a fraction of the nutrients our body needs to be healthy and thrive.

Most people know the berries and avocado are considered super foods. If you eat these often, study after study shows that you will be much closer to living at your highest healthy potential.

but I’m willing to bet you haven’t heard about the nutrients we will be talking about today. So without further ado, here are 7 super foods jam packed with vital nutrients that you probably have never heard of.

Umeboshi Plum

When you talk about highly educated and ultra-healthy civilizations, Japan is near the Top. Featuring one of the longest average life spans in the world, the Japanese are known far and wide for being the picture of perfect health.

The Umeboshi plum Originates in Japan and has been used since ancient times to treat diseases like typhoid and dysentery. This super food is hard to beat when it comes to the elimination of toxins and the boosting of natural, crash free energy.

And when it comes to alkalizing your body, these plums are even more powerful than lemons. That’s insane!

Kaniwa

If you’re into super foods , you’ve probably heard of quinoa. But have you heard of Kaniwa? Most people haven’t.

This is a smaller darker and sweeter grain than quinoa. and while we’re just starting to discover the amazing healing power of kaniwa, recent studies are showing this to be a new powerhouse superfood.

Thanks to its high concentration of protein, carbs, and minerals, and its vanishingly small crude fat content, Kaniwa should be a staple of any diet. Especially vegetarian!

Maca Root

Grown high up in the Andes mountains, maca root belongs to the same family of plants as cabbage and kale. Ever since ancient times, it’s been used as a libido boosting supplement with no equal. Yet that’s not all it can do.

Maca root is now being hailed as the most exciting discovery for naturally boosting your NRG an endurance. Some Olympic athletes even use this to improve their conditioning.

It’s also known as one of nature’s finest all natural mood boosters. Although it’s unlikely to make you bursting with joy, maca root can add a level of positivity that makes your days go by more pleasantly.

Dandelion Roots

Thus far, all the Super foods we’ve discussed have been somewhat exotic in nature. Now we’re going to take it a lot closer to home.

if you’re anything like me, thinking about dandelions makes you think of kicking them in the lawn when you’re a kid. Yet you probably had no idea that the species you were kicking is over 30,000,000 years old.

The reason why it’s lasted so long Is because virtually every single Micron of this flower is packed with incredible nutrients. Although I wouldn’t suggest digging up your backyard, you can find dandelion teas in most grocery stores. Even though it offers almost countless health benefits, you may notice it the most in your digestion. This is because it is capable of making that entire system more efficient and comfortable.

Deer Antler Velvet

This is another ancient supplement that is just barely gaining popularity in the western world. Deer antler velvet is especially effective for inducing growth in the muscle, skin, tendons, and bone.

It’s also used as a kidney tonic to improve the function of this vital organ. The harvesting of this velvet can be done in humane, caring, and sustainable ways. Just as antler velvet helps a deer grow antlers, it can help the building blocks of your body as well.

Camu Camu

Camu Camu is a sour Berry that you’ve probably never heard of. That’s because it grows deep inside one of the most dangerous ecosystems in the entire world: the Amazon rainforest.

like most berries, Camu Camu has incredible health benefits. The main reason why it’s considered a superfood is because it’s over abundance of powerful compounds. These compounds, like vitamin C, boost the immune system, and aid vital functions.

Camu Camu Also contains powerful anti oxidants. In fact it was even shown to lower the amount of stress damage caused by daily smoking. In a study, camu camu was shown to reduce his damage far more than vitamin C alone. Clearly, this is a powerful anti-aging tool that anyone who cares about preserving their health should look into.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, the world of super food is wide and diverse. On every single continent and the globe we’ve discovered foods that can play a vital role in helping you live the life you were meant to live. I hope you use these super foods to improve your day-to-day life!

It’s OFFICIALLY the most romantic time of the year. Cupid has his bow knocked. Candy hearts and red-hot candies can be found on store shelves and littering carpets. And love is most certainly in the air!

But have you ever stopped to wonder… why?

Why is it that every year in February, we celebrate love? Well, in today’s article, I’m going take you step-by-step through the historical events that transpired to bring us one of the most controversial holidays of the year: VALENTINE’S DAY.

The Priest Who Performed Forbidden Weddings

In the 3rd century, Rome was the world power. A major reason why they were such a major power was due to the strength of their army. In conflict after conflict, the Roman army utterly destroyed its opponents.

The Roman emperor Claudius II believed that single men fought better than married. So he made a decree outlawing marriage for young men.

At this time, the catholic church was the major religion of the city. A priest of the catholic church, Valentine, believed Claudius’s decree was unjust. So, he would marry together young couples, defying the emperor’s law!

From Priest to Saint

Word spread fast. And soon, couples from all over were coming to Valentine to be married in secret. Yet word also spread in other places. And soon Claudius II received word of Valentine’s covert operation.

When Claudius found out, he flew into a rage, and ordered Valentine beheaded.

Because he was killed for helping his religion, Valentine became a martyr, and is now officially recognized by the Catholic church as St. Valentine.

The First Valentine

Although the story of St. Valentine is dramatic, the truth is historians don’t know how accurate it is. In fact, St. Valentine could be another man during that exact same period… who was also beheaded by Claudius II.

It’s said during this time period, a catholic named Valentine was imprisoned for helping other Christians escape prisons where they were harshly tortured. He fell in love with the jailor’s daughter, and sent her the world’s first valentine. A note, reading simply… “From your Valentine”.

An Ancient Bloody Cure for Fertility

This next part is a little brutal. But… history is brutal. So, for those with the stomach to continue, let’s talk about where Valentine’s day REALLY came from.

It just so happens that February is also when the pagan celebration Lupercalia takes place. This is a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture.

The festival was held in a secret cave. This was no ordinary cave. It was where the eventual founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, were cared for and raised by a she-wolf!

At the start of the ritual, priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility. They would then skin the goats, dip them in blood, and emerge from the cave. Women would line up at their doors to be gently slapped with this blood-soaked goat hide, as they believed it would make them fertile.

It’s now believed that what we know as Valentine’s day was used by Christian’s to “cover-up” the festival of Lupercalia. And, it looks like it worked. Today, everyone knows about Valentine’s day. While fortunately… no one I know celebrates Lupercalia!

The Story of Cupid

Of course, no Valentine’s day history is complete without mention of Cupid. As it turns out, our picture of Cupid is far different from what he was originally… just like the holiday as a whole.

Cupid was clearly inspired by the Greek god of love, Eros. Eros was a tall, extremely handsome god, whose golden arrows could inspire incredible feelings of lust, romance, and passion in the hearts of any they pierced.

According to the ancient poets, he used this power to manipulate them, as love and attraction are the most powerful human emotions.

Closing Thoughts

So, there you have it. The real history of Valentine’s day! Isn’t it interesting to see how today’s holidays evolved from ancient, seemingly insane traditions? And isn’t it even more interesting to see how the history… the very structure of society… can change based on who is currently in power?

Of course, this Valentine’s Day, I wish you the most beautiful day of love you’ve ever experienced. Whether with your partner or alone, we now have the opportunity to make Valentine’s day our own.

And whether it used to be about sacrificing goats or performing secret marriages… from now on… it’s about you. ️

One of my earliest memories is my teacher asking the whole class what our favorite food was. Almost everyone answered pizza! Whether it’s the hearty tomato sauce, the almost guilty use of cheese, or the tossed pizza dough… a good pizza has something for everyone.

In today’s article, I’m going to talk about the five most popular styles of pizza. If you find yourself in any of the areas where these are famous, do yourself a favor and make ordering a slice a priority.

New York Style

There is absolutely nothing like a real New York pizza. And for some reason, it doesn’t taste the same anywhere else – even if it has the same ingredients! New York style pizza is made for grab and go.

Generally, it’s sold by the massive slice. Piping hot and dripping with cheese. This pizza is made for people on the go. But do you know the history behind it? Most people don’t.

New York isn’t just the home of a delicious style of pizza… it’s basically the birthplace of American pizza as a whole! As legend has it, the first pizza in the USA was created by an Italian named Gennaro Lombardi.

Originally, the pizzas would sell by the whole pie. However, during hard times, people couldn’t afford the whole pie. So pizza companies invented the idea of selling their pizzas by the slice.

It’s also said that originally, the sauce was on top and the cheese was on the bottom. Whether this was once the case, it certainly isn’t any more.

Chicago Style

Chicago… home of the deep-dish pizza, baby. Chicago has turned pizza into something of its own. Baked to perfection in a deep pan, Chicago pizza towers over any other kind. It’s often stuffed to the absolute brim with all kinds of toppings. Pepperoni, olives, peppers, sausage, onions, and meatballs commonly make up the inside of this behemoth.

Even though Chicago is the deepest dish pizza, that’s just the start of what makes it unique. Because the crust is so thick, the pizza needs to be cooked between 30 – 45 minutes long. Ordinarily, this would burn the cheese. Because of this, a Chicago pizza is layered “upside down”. The cheese goes on the bottom. And all the other toppings go into the middle. Finally, it’s covered with an incredibly hearty tomato sauce. The end result is almost impossible to eat without a fork!

Now, we don’t know who invented the Chicago pizza. Many people report it was originally invented at Pizzeria Uno in 1943.

When it comes to making pizza unique, Chicago can’t be beat.

California Style

There’s something magical about California. From world-class beaches to Hollywood, everything in California has a special aura to it. And the pizza is no different!

California pizza is a fusion of New York and Italian styles. It generally features a very thin and light crust… perfect for enjoying on the beach. Somewhat of an opposite to Chicago style, there is generally less sauce and cheese, for an overall lighter experience. You will also find all kinds of unique toppings on California pizzas. From artichokes to broccoli, nothing is off limits on a delicious California pizza.

Unlike Chicago and New York Pizza, California pizza was invented in the 80s. by Ed LaDou (the “prince of Pizza”). He had originally learned how to make pizza in New York. After moving to California, he once again started to make pizza… but this time with his own creative twists. Today

Today, California pizza is popular all over the world.

Sicilian Pizza

If you’re looking for a more traditional pizza, you can’t go wrong with Sicilian. Sicily is a large Mediterranean island off the cost of Italy. The original Sicilian pizza was called Sfincione, which can be translated to “thick sponge”.

These pizzas are usually small, rectangular shapes. They are cut into 3-4 pieces in total. The original recipe for Sicilian Pizza likely used an Italian yeast bread, backed on a flat pan.

Then, in the early 1900s, when many Sicilians migrated to the USA, they brought their recipe with them. And now, it’s become one of the most popular pizzas in the world.

Detroit Style

Detroit style pizza is made with a thick, crisp crust. It comes in a square with anywhere from 4-8 pieces per pie. It most commonly features meats like ham, sausage, pepperoni, and vegetables like mushrooms and olives.

The recipe originated from the heart of Detroit in 1946. The pizza was so delicious it spread far and wide throughout the city. And now, Detroit is famous for it.

Closing Thoughts

I’m a pizza lover, and chances are… you are too. If you can try any of these pizzas where they were invented, I can promise you – you are in for a treat!

When I was younger, my parents would tell me that the winter was a beautiful time of year. But I was so focused on the cold, I missed what they were talking about.

Now that I’m older, I finally get it. Winter may be cold, but that cold opens the door to some amazing activities that are impossible every other time of year. Especially when you have a significant other!

Use this list of romantic snow activities to make the season fly by. Who knows, maybe it will even become your favorite!

Go Hiking

There’s something amazing about hiking in the wintertime. It’s like all the familiar paths that you’ve been on in the summer get transformed into winter wonderlands. The scenery can look more like Narnia than planet Earth!

…which makes it the perfect place for a romantic outing!

Frozen waterfalls, snow covered evergreens, and deer peeking through the trees. It’s really a beautiful, magical experience. Especially when you’re sharing it with someone you love. The hike becomes an adventure that brings both of you closer. Just make sure you have the right gear. Do NOT do this until you understand layers. Don’t wear cotton. Make sure you have waterproof boots.

Go Ice Skating

Is there anything more romantic than ice skating? Gliding across the ice, hand in hand… it’s like a Christmas movie. Now, for ice skating, I recommend you go all out. For example, downtown in my city is a big ice rink. It’s dead center in the city and has all kinds of amazing activities to do around it.

I could go to the closest ice rink. Or I could take the extra time to go downtown and get an entirely different experience. If you have an iconic spot near you to skate, go check it out. I know you’ll love it.

Go Sledding

Sledding is a ton of fun as a kid. And guess what? It’s just as much fun as an adult. It’s a lot cheaper than downhill skiing/snowboarding, too. Sledding is perfect to do right after snowfall. That way you get the fresh, fluffy powder to cruise down. I recommend finding a spot nearby.

Make a trip out of it. Take the scenic route and walk to the slope. Then spend some time speeding down the hill. Cap it all off with a hot cup of cocoa. I promise – you’ll feel 10 years younger.

Watch Movies by the Fire

My favorite part of winter is getting cozy. There’s just no other feeling like it. With snow covering the land… and gentle flakes floating to the ground… while you’re sitting inside, warm, watching it all cuddled up with your partner on a cozy couch… it just doesn’t get better than that.

Personally, I love to watch long, dialogue heavy movies during this time. Like the Godfather or Pulp Fiction. You can really sink in and get involved in the movie.

Cook Some Amazing Hot Meals

There’s no better time to improve your cooking skills than the winter. Not only does it give you a fun way to pass the time indoors, the hot food you make will warm your body, heart, and soul!

I highly recommend you both try some French cooking. There are so many delicious hot soups you can make, it will blow your mind. Imagine the smell of cooking bacon, onions, carrots, garlic, and celery. Combining it all with chicken stock and a bunch of other veggies. Then serving it all up with toasted bread and cheese. It’s so simple. So warm. And so, so delicious.

This is a fun one. Go to an art store and get some canvas paper and paints. Watercolor is always an easy option if you’re not that good at painting. But feel free to ask the art store employees for suggestions.

Get a nice bottle of your favorite wine. Pour yourselves some generous glasses and start painting! You can watch some Bob Ross YouTube videos to get in the mood. Either work on your own projects or work together to create a masterpiece. Don’t forget to hang it up front and center in the front room! 😉

Go Shopping

Shopping is a great way to spend the winter – before or after Christmas. After Christmas, many outlets will have clearance and new year specials. So it’s the perfect time to go shopping together. Bonus points for dressing up fancy, shopping, and ending it all with a great night on the town.

In Conclusion

If you do any of these dates, I promise you… you will love spending the winter with your significant other. Before you know it the sun will be setting late again and spring will be here. And you may even find yourself wishing winter had lasted longer…

Is there anything better than being on the slopes? Dressed up warm and cozy, sitting on the lift as it takes you all the way to the top. And then… freedom. Speed. Adrenaline. Surrounded by the incredible beauty of the mountains.

In today’s article, we’re going to talk about the six best ski spots in the world. Go to any of these and expect nothing less than a world class skiing and resort experience.

Park City, Utah

Nestled in the Wasatch Mountains is the small resort town Park City, Utah. It’s also home to the world-famous Sundance Film Festival. Every year, Hollywood stars grace the otherwise quiet locale.

When you hit the slopes of Park City, you immediately understand what all the hype is about. Utah claims “greatest snow on Earth”, and it’s for genuine reason. The cold, dry climate makes for powder unlike anywhere else.

Whether you’re sipping hot cocoa by the fire in a snug log cabin, or flying down one of the dozens of incredible slopes at Park City and Canyons resorts, you simply cannot go wrong visiting this spot!

Whistler, British Columbia

Over 2,000,000 people visit Whistler annually. And when you ride the famous “peak 2 peak” gondola for the first time, you’ll see why.

That’s right – this gondola holds the world record for the longest and highest lift in the entire world! And it includes a 360 degree glass view that is absolutely breathtaking. Remember, that’s just the lift to the mountain.

Whistler boasts one of the best snowfalls in the entire world. This makes it almost perfect conditions for skiing.

Zermatt, Switzerland

The Swiss are famous for their incredible detail. That’s how luxury Swiss watchmakers like Rolex and Patek-Phillipe can create watches worth tens of thousands of dollars. Tiny, intricate, extremely well connected pieces.

That attention to detail is alive and well in Zermatt, Switzerland. Zermatt is one of the “greenest” resorts in the world. So not only will you have an amazing time, but your footprint on the planet will be minimized the entire time. Not bad!

If you’ve been to Disneyland, you know the ride the Matterhorn. Well, that actually comes from Zermatt! So you will be able to see this incredible mountain up close and personal.

Courchevel, France

Courchevel France is the world’s largest alpine ski domain. It includes over 372 miles of ski runs crisscrossing between 10 different summits over 2,500 meters. You can get to every mile of this through a complicated system of over 60 lifts.

Courchevel has a reputation for being upscale, even as far as resort towns go. Yet it’s not without its reason. All of the snow on the resort is meticulously managed and groomed. And for expert skiers, it features what may be the most dangerous run in the world.

Aspen, Colorado

The famous saying about Aspen is, “it’s where normal people go to feel famous and famous people go to feel normal”. Aspen couples small town vibes with the glitz and glammor of celebrity. And they pair together so naturally it’s like no other place in the world.

Maybe that’s why Aspen has been mentioned in more Hollywood movies than any other ski resort… ever!

The “Aspen Snowmass” is so large, 36 Disneylands could fit inside it. Lucky individuals or devoted explorers can stumble upon four monuments inside these mountains, dedicated to John Denver, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Jerry Garcia.

There’s plenty to do outside of skiing as well, with over 100 different bars and restaurants sprinkled throughout the small town.

Salzburg, Austria

Perhaps most famous for being the birthplace of Mozart, Salzburg is also an absolutely incredible ski city.

One of the best parts of skiing in Salzburg is taking the train to multiple resorts. This will showcase the incredible beauty of the city and the country, and allow you to ski on every part of the incredible Salzburg alps.

Salzburg is a large, modern city with plenty of accommodations outside of skiing. Eat some of the finest food in the world or tour what is one of the most historically important western countries of all time.

In Conclusion

These are six of the most jaw-dropping ski resorts in the entire world. If you can make it to any one of them, you will have a memory that lasts a lifetime. If you’re serious about skiing, make this list a “bucket list”. Make it a goal to visit every single one of them in your lifetime.

Because as you now know, each offers a completely different experience. Whether in the USA or out, this world has enough amazing snow experiences for 1,000 lifetimes.

Want to know how to make winter your
favorite season? Learn how to ski!

Skiing can either be the most relaxing, or
most exhilarating experience you have all winter. The best part is, it’s
not too difficult to get into.

Today’s article is a primer on basic ski
technique. Read it before you hit the slopes and you’ll be prepared for
whatever mother nature throws at you.

Dress Warmly With Layers

The first step is to make sure you have the
right equipment. It can get VERY cold out on the slopes. If you aren’t wearing the right clothes, you’re going to have a miserable
time.

The most important point to remember with ski clothes is
not to wear ANYTHING cotton. As you’re skiing, you’ll probably work up a sweat.
If you’re wearing cotton, the sweat will stick to the fabric. First, this makes
the cotton lose it’s ability to insulate. But even worse, it’s now created a
very cold layer that will actually sap the warmth from your body.

If you wear cotton, even if you have a
heavy down outer layer on, you’ll be freezing underneath it!

Renting vs Buying

If you’re a complete beginner, I recommend
you rent skis instead of buying them brand-new. Skiing is a lot of fun but it’s not for
everyone. Better to find that out the cheap way through renting some decent
skis that’ll get you through the day.

Take a Lesson

Now, I’m going to describe some basic ski
techniques to you in the next section. However, this is just a primer for the
ski lesson I highly recommend you take. These are affordable and every
ski resort offers them. Generally, they last just 30 minutes and can be the
difference between confidence on the slopes, and feel like you fall down every
second.

There are a lot of intricacies you need to
learn to get on the lift safely. Taking the time to get a lesson will help keep
you and the other skiers on the mountain safe.

Skiing Basics

Now for the fun part. Actually skiing!

Before you get to the slopes, you’re going
to want to practice clipping your skis into your boots. First, do it in a dry
area. Feel the unique bindings of your ski snap together. Then, if you have
snow outside, put some snow into the ski to practice.

Once you’ve clipped your skis on, practice
standing up and getting the balance.

Now, when you arrive at the resort, go to
the side of the lift. Usually, there is a small hill that beginners can
practice on.

Snowplow Stance

Snowplow stance is the easiest way to
safely move with skis. First, put your feet shoulder width apart. Angle the
skis inwards so you form an arrow. In this stance, you’ll find that you can
easily control your speed. You’ll also feel the most secure and balanced.

Practice going down the small hill in this
snowplow stance. When you feel comfortable, you can move onto the beginner
hills. On small slopes, snowplow stance can help you slowly make your way down
the hill.

Keep Your Knees Bent

Our knees are natural shock absorbers. When
bent, they help absorb impact and keep us on our feet. When you first start
skiing, you may want to tense up your knees. Initially, this can feel more
secure.

However, if you look your knees you will
fall very quickly and painfully. So make sure to always keep in mind that when
your knees are bent, you’re stable.

Stay Away from Powder at First

You may have heard that powder is heaven
for skiers. And, that’s absolutely true… once you have a hang of
balancing and skiing down hill. Because if you fall in powder, you can get
stuck. While not exactly painful, it can be difficult for a beginner to get
back up and balanced. For this reason, stick to the beginner hills until you’re
confident you can stay on your feet, turn, and stop reliably.

Don’t Look Down

As a beginner, you’ll likely look down to
stabilize yourself. This is fine when you’re just getting your balance. But
move away from this as quickly as possible. Looking straight ahead is the only
way to safely ski. It allows you to see everything coming up and any other
skiers in your path. Too often beginners worry about their skis crossing, so
they look down… only to get hit by another skier they didn’t see. Don’t let it
happen to you!

Closing Thoughts

If you’ve never skied before, you really
have to try it. By following the basic tips outlined in today’s article, you’ll
have the right mindsets before you hit the slopes. This will ensure you learn
quickly and can get out on the slopes as quickly as possible. Who knows, maybe
you’ve found your new passion!

Did you know that the average American
tosses 4.4 lbs of trash per day?

It might not seem like that much. But since
there are over 300 million people living in the USA, that’s roughly 728,000 TONS
of daily garbage. Or enough to fill 63,000 garbage trucks.

So in today’s article, I’m going to give
you some creative ways to reuse common items you’d normally think of as trash.
I think you’ll be surprised by just how useful the stuff you throw away can be.

Toilet Paper
Rolls

When the toilet paper runs out, replace it,
and toss the old cardboard roll, right? WRONG. This little piece of cardboard
is insanely useful around the house. Here are just a few things you can make
with it.

Tie/Belt Hanger

It can be tough to keep all your belts and
ties organized. This craft makes it simple. All you need is an empty toilet
paper roll.

Use scissors to cut the roll into about 10
equal sized circles. Then, using glue, attach it to the bottom of the hanger.
Make sure to place each circle right next to each other. Now, you can hang ties
and belts through these circles, allowing you to put at least 10 in one easy
location.

Yarn Spool

This is an easy one. Simply make a slit
around 1/3rd of the way down the roll. Then take one end of the yarn
you want to wrap up. Slide it into the slit so it holds still. Then wrap a bit
of it around one of the ends.

The idea is to roll all the yarn around the
toilet paper roll, forming a spool. Yet this can take a long time. So, if you
use a handheld mixer, you can stick the beater inside the tube. Then turn it on
and watch as your yarn rolls up almost instantly!

Homemade Decorations

When you cut a toilet paper cardboard into
individual circles, these circles can then be bent and glued together to make
incredible designs. For example, if you want to make a flower, cut the roll
into 10 equal sized pieces. Then crease them together so they are flat. Allow
it to expand out again. By combining this shape in a star pattern, you’ll quickly
have a makeshift flower. You can paint this and glue it together for a
completely unique home decoration I can promise you won’t see anywhere else.

Silica Gel

These little packets are found in all kinds
of products. You know the look – little bags of powder with large warnings of
DO NOT EAT on them. These are almost always thrown away immediately.

Well, did you know they can actually save a
wet phone? Keep them in a safe place. Then if you ever drop your phone into
water, put it in a Ziplock bag with a handful of these. They will almost
magically suck the water right out – in most cases, making your phone good as
new.

Silica Gel packets can also be used to
de-fog a car windshield or bathroom mirror. Dry a wet swimsuit in a hurry.
Prevent rust on razor blades. And even keep toiletry bags dry during travel.

Tic Tac Boxes

Like Tic Tacs? Don’t throw the boxes away!

These conveniently sized boxes can be used
for all sorts of things. You can put a mini pencil sharpener inside, and when
you sharpen the pencil the shavings will go right into the box. Or, you can put
the head of your toothbrush in it while traveling to keep it clean and dry.

Tic Tac boxes can be used to store
paperclips and other crafting materials. And you can even use it to keep spices
stored and organized in the kitchen.

Soda Bottles

Soda bottles are made out of a durable,
water resistant plastic. This kind of plastic can take centuries to erode
naturally in nature. Which is why we should reuse them if possible. Thankfully,
they make perfect soap containers. Simply buy a soap pump from the store… or
even better, reuse one from an old bottle. Make sure it’s the correct size to
fit on the bottle. Then fill the bottle up with soap.

This works even better with glass bottles.
Especially the classic Coca-Cola look. Just imagine having a glass coke bottle
that stores your soap, or anything else you need near the sink. It gives a
vintage style and costs pennies. Best of all, it’ll be a great conversation
starter, since I’m confident none of your guests will have ever seen anything
like it.

In Conclusion

These are just a few simple ideas on how
you can be less wasteful at home. As you can see, even though these items are
commonly thrown away, they can have a lot more value if you use a little
creativity. Have fun!

There’s nothing quite like a hot meal on a
cold day. Which is why today, I’m going to share 3 of my favorite
winter recipes with you.

These are simple to make and will make the
whole family happy.

Cabbage and Pork Soup

This is an incredibly healthy and delicious
meal. Best of all it takes just minutes to prepare. The following recipe is
good to serve 4 people a full and complete meal.

Prep Time: 25
Minutes

Cook Time: 1
hour 15 minutes

Clean Time: 10
minutes

Ingredients:

1 medium size cabbage (savoy or white)

300 grams of smoked pork belly/bacon

1 medium size carrot

1 onion

3 cloves

8 cups clear chicken stock

1 tablespoon of butter

Salt and pepper

4 slices of bread

Instructions:

Slice the cabbage in half. Then, slice each half in half again, creating quarters. Put the quarters in a pan and fill it to the top with cold water. Then put it on the stove and heat it until it boils. This is called blanching the cabbage.

When cabbage is blanched, take
out and cut lengthwise into slices.

Slice the onion in half. In one
half, insert 3 whole cloves. Cut the other half in half, creating 2 quarters.

Minestrone soup was invented in Italy
around 1875. The word is thought to come from a combination of two words.
Loosely translated, this means “to remedy”. In other words, this is a hot, very
healthy soup that will keep your immune system up and running strong.

Prep Time: 10
minutes

Cook Time: 55
minutes

Clean Time: 10
minutes

Ingredients:

1 small onion

2 cloves of garlic

1 zuccini

2 celery stocks

2 medium potatoes

1 carrot, julienne

4 cups vegetable broth

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can of cannellini beans

Oregano

Basil

Time

Salt and pepper

Instructions:

Heat oil in a large pot in medium heat.

Add onion and garlic and sauté
for a 3-4 minutes.

Add zucchini and celery.

Add vegetable broth, diced
tomatoes, beans.

Add carrots and potatoes.

Add spices.

Stir everything thoroughly and
then add 3 cups of hot water (add more or less water based on the consistency
you want.

Bring to a boil and then continue
cooking over medium-low heat for 45 minutes.

French Onion
Soup

French Onion Soup
is a classic dish that is absolutely perfect for the winter season. The onions
combined with the beef stock gives it an absolutely delicious, sweet taste. And
topping with toasted bread and cheese makes a dish that is practically to die for.
All prepped and ready in under an hour!

Prep Time: 10
minutes

Cook Time: 50
minutes

Clean Time: 10
minutes

Ingredients:

5 yellow/white onions

2 tbsp butter

1 tspn grapeseed oil

1 glass dry white wine

32 oz organic beef stock

1 tbsp flour

Thyme, rosemary, bay leaf

White cheese to taste

1 slice of robust bread

Instructions

Mince onions

Put pan on medium heat, add
both butter and grapeseed oil

Add all the onions (it should
fill the pot almost to the top)

Cook onions for 30 minutes,
stirring every 5 or so. By the end, the consistency should be a light brown
(caramelized)

Add the white wine to deglaze
the bottom of the pan

Add flour, mix well and cook
for 1 minute

Add beef stock

Add herbs

Let the soup simmer for about
20 minutes

Preheat oven to 375

Cook sliced bread for 10 minutes

Add salt and pepper to soup to taste

Fill a bowl to the top with soup. Add the toasted bread. Cover generously with cheese.

Put the bowl in the oven on broil for 2 minutes (after oven is hot)

Closing
Thoughts

As you can see these recipes are easy,
cheap, and a lot of fun. Not to mention they’re healthy and delicious enough to
please even the pickiest eaters. Try them out and leave us a comment letting us
know which one you like the most.

Well, wonder no more! In today’s article,
I’ll show you 6 of the best-selling products on Amazon for 2019. I tried to find
some products that are a little unique and unexpected. At the same time,
they’re extremely popular. This is what everyone is buying. So I hope you find
a new favorite product, or something that inspires you.

It’s no secret that leggings are in style.
And, they probably always will be. Thanks to their extreme comfort and the fact
that they work for almost any occasion, I imagine these will be in high-demand
for a long time.

The Leggings Depot leggings seem to stick
out due to their quality of fabric. They are form hugging and sexy. Yet they
don’t reveal panty lines, and they won’t rip if you’re doing squats in the gym.

Weighted blankets are a life saver for
anyone suffering from insomnia. Most of us know the feeling. Lying awake while
the thoughts race through our minds. The more we try and ignore them the louder
they seem to get. Before we know it, it’s time to get up and we haven’t even
slept yet.

Well, weighted blankets show a lot of
promise for solving this. How? Well, they simulate the pressure we felt in the
womb. This subconsciously calms us and helps use feel safe, which drastically
lowers our anxiety. Ultimately, it’s our anxiety that causes our thoughts to
race and prevents us from sleeping. So if you struggle with sleep at all… I
can’t recommend this product enough.

Look: these days security cameras are so
affordable… and so high-quality… I believe everyone should have one. The Wyze
set-up cam streams to the cloud. Which means it is always recording, at no
hassle to you. If anything happens, you’ll see right away. You can even set it
up to alert you if it detects motion.

It has near perfect night vision, allowing
you to keep track of valuable areas when they are most vulnerable. And, it’s
incredibly easy to set up. Using the app, you can change directions, monitor
the feed, hear audio, and even speak through the other end! Please do not leave
your security up to chance. Get this Wyze camera and you’ll sleep better at
night… I promise.

Kanoodle is a new game that people of all
ages can enjoy. Best of all, it’s educational and will help teach children
important logic and reasoning skills.

It’s a puzzle game that requires a lot of
thought and concentration to figure out. And most reviewers say it’s addicting.
Although it starts out easy enough, by the time you get to the highest levels
it’s incredibly difficult, even if you consider yourself a very smart person.
Give it a try – I know you won’t regret it.

Essential oils almost couldn’t be more
popular right now. And for good reason. They have practically limitless uses.
From aromatherapy to healing aches and pains, essential oils are having a
remarkably positive impact in millions of lives across the world.

Natrogix Bliss is a special set of
essential oils. First off, it contains 9 of the most popular oils on the
planet. These include peppermint, frankincense, eucalyptus, sweet orange,
rosemary, lemongrass, tea tree, lemon, and lavender. So, it’s a great starter
set.

But what most reviewers really love about
this set is the innovative packaging. Clearly made with a passionate artistic
eye and a keen attention to detail, this packaging is a must-see. And it makes
the natrogix bliss essential oils set an incredible gift!

We live in the era of the selfie. And if
you love Instagram, then you’ll love this camera. Why? Well, it prints out
pictures it takes in less than 60 seconds! So you can pose with yourself or
with your friends and take a picture. Less than a minute later it will be
printed out, ready to be put on the refrigerator or hung anywhere else your
heart desires.

With this latest model, it even includes a
built-in selfie mirror so, so you can see exactly what the printed picture will
look like before you take it! This is not only the perfect product for someone
who loves taking pictures with friends… it’s the perfect gift.

Closing Thoughts

All of these products are extremely
popular. And, I did my best to find some unique ones as well. I hope I was able
to spark some ideas on some new products to buy. And remember… on Vipon, we get
45,000 coupons every single day. So before shopping on Amazon for these
products, check Vipon first. Odds are we have a 50%+ off coupon for whatever
you’re looking for (although it might be a different brand).

Christmas is more than just a date on the
calendar. It’s a time of year. Just following Thanksgiving, there’s a little
more cheer in the air.

One of the best ways to make Christmas more
special and rememberable is to have family traditions. When you do these, they
act like small rituals signifying the holiday. And they will create some of the
strongest, best memories you’ll ever have.

Chances are you already have some Christmas traditions. In today’s article, we’re going to give you 7 of our favorites. Try them out!

1. Go Christmas Caroling

Christmas carolers help make the season
bright. By going door to door, or singing in public, these carolers are
integral to helping others feel that special Christmas charm. And, now you can
be one of them.

When I was young, one of our favorite
traditions was taking gifts to the neighbors while caroling. We’d bake some
zucchini bread and hand it out with sparkling cider. We’d start singing right
as the door opened.

We made unforgettable memories, as well as helped create a strong bond in the community.

2. Christmas Countdown

Part of the fun of Christmas is the
anticipation. Having a Christmas countdown helps you see every single day as it
draws near. Kids especially love seeing the countdown start at 25 at the start
of the month and seeing it approach 1 – Christmas Eve.

Advent calendars are another way of doing this. They have chocolate inside for every day. So every day you can open another door and get a nice treat.

3. Christmas Pajamas

Christmas pajamas are a great way to up the
family spirit. By getting a matching set of pajamas, the whole family has some
cozy, special clothes for the holiday. When everyone is sitting around opening
presents, listening to music, and wearing those matching jammies… it’s
unforgettable.

Many different stores have Christmas pajamas on sale during the holiday. And on Vipon, we regularly have entire family sets of pajamas at 50% off or even more.

4. See a Christmas Concert

Another one of my favorite family traditions is going to a large cathedral downtown. There we’d listen to classic Christmas songs sung by a highly talented catholic choir. I’m willing to bet there’s a big church offering a free Christmas concert near you, too. These events are usually short and festive. In my hometown, the cathedral is packed full of cheerful people celebrating the holiday and uniting in brotherly love. Just be sure to get there early. If the concert is free, it will probably fill up almost immediately!

5. Help Those in Need

Christmas is a time of giving. And no one
needs our help more during the holidays than others less fortunate.
Fortunately, there are dozens of easy ways you can give back. Usually around
this time, the post office will run a food drive. Here you can leave canned
foods right by your mailbox, to be automatically picked up and donated by the
USPS.

You can also volunteer. Soup kitchens always need help. And this lets you directly meet and talk to the people you’re helping. This is also the season for larger charity events and galas. So if you have a little more money you’d like to donate, these events can be a great place to meet new friends.

6. Watch a Christmas Movie

Another family tradition I had growing up
is watching, “It’s a wonderful life” every Christmas eve. I always looked
forward to this. Not because I loved the movie especially (I was young at the
time)… but because watching it meant Christmas was almost here.

There are a lot of Christmas classics, so it should be easy to find something your whole family enjoys. Some of my favorites include a Christmas Story, Elf, The Santa Claus, Home Alone, and It’s a Wonderful Life.

7. Have a Cookie and Hot Chocolate Night

When it’s cold outside, every night is a hot chocolate night. Still, you can make an official day of it to make it even more special. Get the family together and bake cookies. Cover them with Christmas frosting and sprinkles. Look up a classic hot chocolate recipe online and really put some time into making it delicious.

8. Write Letters to Santa

Writing letters to Santa can be one of the
most exciting parts of the year. Even for adults! This is your chance to really
figure out what you want for Christmas this year. It gives parents and adults a
shopping list… and gives kids the chance to join in on one of the world’s
favorite Christmas traditions.

In Conclusion

These are 8 simple traditions that I know
your family will love. If one sticks out to you, try it out. It could become
your family’s new favorite tradition!

Winter can be depressing. It’s backed by science. It’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder, and tens of millions of Americans suffer from it.

Why does it happen? Well, with Daylight
Saving’s time, it cuts the amount of sunlight we’re exposed to. Plus, during
the winter, in cold places, people bundle up. And sunlight is critical to our
health. So during the winter, we aren’t getting the natural Vitamin D we need
to feel our best.

Then there’s the holidays and the stress
those bring. So, if you historically get a little down during the winter, I
have some good news. It’s treatable. And, it’s not too difficult either.

Symptoms of Seasonal Depression

First, I’m going to give you a breakdown of
seasonal depression symptoms. Now, very important: I am not a doctor. This is
not health advice. These are just some average symptoms so you can see what
your experience is. If you find yourself really suffering from some of these,
you need to see a doctor ASAP.

A change in appetite,
especially a craving for sweet or starchy foods

Weight gain

A heavy feeling in the arms or
legs

A drop in energy level

Fatigue

A tendency to oversleep

Difficulty concentrating

Irritability

Increased sensitivity to social
rejection

Avoidance of social
situations—not wanting to go out

Source: aafp.org

Light Therapy for Seasonal Depression

One of the biggest causes of SAD is lack of
sunlight. Fortunately, we now have lamps that mimic the effect of sunlight on
our skin. Which means if you use this light for even just 30 minutes a day,
your body will create all the nutrients needed for you to be happy and feel
great.

Very important: these lights are NOT the
same as the lights in tanning beds. So you will not get the same benefits from
a tanning bed! Don’t expose yourself to unnecessary skin risk by tanning to try
and get rid of seasonal depression. It won’t have the desired effect.

Light Alarm Clock

Now we’re going to take the last tip to the
next level. Mornings may be the most difficult part of winter. There’s nothing
like having to wake up in the pitch black when you can practically see your
breath.

If the thought of that makes you groan,
I’ve got amazing news. They actually make lamps that go off to an alarm. Which
means you can put this lamp in your bedroom. One hour before your wake-up time,
the light slowly starts to turn on. It takes a whole hour to get 100% on,
mimicking the rising sun. Not only that, but this is the kind of lamp that
helps your body make Vitamin D too!

So not only are you waking up naturally, to a soft, growing light, you’re also getting the sun exposure you need to keep your happy hormones working. If you suffer from seasonal depression, just this one tip could be a complete and total game changer for you.

Get Very Warm Clothes

To enjoy winter, you have to get some
dominion over the cold. If the cold scares you… if you hate the cold… you’re
going to be miserable by default.

By far the most important way to overcome
the cold is to master layers. Layers is a way of dressing where, as you might
have guessed, you wear layers of clothes. On the bottom you have a thermal,
long-underwear style. Then a fleece. Then top it off with a 900 fill down
jacket.

Combine this with thermal long underwear under jeans, and you are going to be toasty… well looking great. It’s true – winter is a great time for fashion. And if you embrace that, and get warm clothing, you’ll find yourself actually looking forward to exploring the winter wonderland outside!

Get Your Heart Beating

Now for the icing on the cake: exercise.
Look, when it’s cold outside, you need to balance that out. One of the best
ways to do that is exercise. When you get your heart pumping, you increase your
circulation. You get that nice, warm 98 degree blood pumping through your
veins, warming you from the inside out.

Also, did you know you can burn up to 3x the calories in the cold? How? Shivering! Shivering is designed to warm you up ASAP. So it literally melts fat to be able to do so. When you have the right clothes, you may begin to love long walks outside. It’s great exercise. It’s simply beautiful. And you’re burning 3x the calories! Not bad…

Closing Thoughts

If you combine these 4 tips together, I know you’re going to see a marked improvement. In fact, you may even start to love winter. A lot of people do.

Winter makes the familiar look brand-new.
Everyday streets and buildings become winter wonderlands full of surprises.
Just being out in it all can be one of the most rewarding activities you do all
year.

But if you really want to experience
snow… in all its majesty, beauty, and fun… make sure to visit one of
these cities during the winter. Make a trip of it. I promise, you won’t be
disappointed.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Jackson Hole is known worldwide as one of
the most gorgeous spots on planet earth. It’s a valley cozily nestled between
the Teton and Gros Ventre mountain ranges. It features top-tier ski slopes and
restaurants serving fresh fish and game meats from the surrounding area.

It’s also home to hundreds of world-class
hiking trails and snowshoeing paths. Whether you’re in town at the local
saloon, kicking it with all the other tourists… or cozying up in a cabin by the
fire… or exploring the great outdoors, you can’t go wrong with Jackson Hole!

Park City, Utah

Park City is most famous as the home of the
Sundance Film Festival. During this festival, A-list celebrities, actors, and
directors fly in from all around the world. They screen films… and hit the bars
and slopes.

Park City is about 40 minutes away from the
capital of Utah, Salt Lake City. It is a high-end resort town featuring 5-star
dining and lodging experiences. There are several major ski resorts located
right in town.

Utahns famously state that Utah has the
greatest snow on Earth. Why? Because of the climate, the powder is able to stay
dry without packing too much. This gives the powder an incredible feeling that
must be experienced to be believed.

Ouray, Colorado

Picture this scene. You’re out in the
mountains. Looking forward, you see a frozen waterfall towering 45 feet in the
air. Across the waterfall are people with icepicks, climbing to the top. To the
right, you look and see the entrance to an abandoned mine. Welcome to Ouray,
Colorado.

Ouray is a small town in the sprawling
Rockies. It’s the perfect set-up for any outdoors activity in the snow. It’s
most popular among climbers, who spend the day climbing and the night soaking
away the soreness in hot tubs. But if you’re the kind of person who loves
winter beauty… it’s for you.

Stowe, Vermont

Everyone who has watched a Hollywood movie
knows what a Vermont winter looks like. With picturesque covered bridges lining
small country roads, Vermont is the ski capital of the East Coast.

The city of Stowe is covered in heavy snow,
giving it a “snowed in” charm. Choose from dozens of different activities while
in town, from skiing, to horseback riding, and even dog sledding.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

When you think of New Mexico, snow is proably
not the first thing that comes to your mind. And that’s part of why it’s such a
great location for it. Although it doesn’t get the huge snowfalls of places
like Colorado or New York, it gets enough to cover the red desert rock faces
with a powder sugar like coat.

Long known as an oasis of spiritual energy,
people visit from all over to feel the calming, healing vibes of this amazing
city. Perfect for when you are looking to nature for a hard reset.

The locals who live in Santa Fe love
Christmas, and have their own unique way of celebrating it. If you’re in the
area during the holidays… it’s absolutely worth checking out.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

This one is not for winter beginners.
Minneapolis gets one of the heaviest snowfalls in the US. And there are few
states that get even close to as cold, and stay that way for as long.

That being said, the people of Minnesota
thrive in it. And if you want to visit a city that transforms in the winter…
and skiing and ice skating become more of a way of life than a recreational
activity… you will love this city.

Anchorage, Alaska

Plane tickets to Anchorage are dirt cheap
in the winter. This is because most people believe the capital of Alaska is way
too cold to visit in the winter. But is it really? Actually, the lowest average
temperature is 11 degrees Fahrenheit. Which is very cold… but, most of the
other cities on this list are just as cold, if not colder.

Anchorage is home to some of the most
gorgeous, awe-inspiring nature in the whole world. But that’s not all. During
the winter, you can actually see the Northern Lights. It’s the only state in
the USA where that’s possible!

People who live in Anchorage know how to
survive and thrive in the winter. So, if you feel the call of the wild… take
the trip and see for yourself.

Black Friday gets bigger and bigger every
year. It’s a double-edged sword. You can absolutely get the items you’re
looking for at rock bottom prices… if you can find the right deal.

So we wanted to make it easy for you this
year. In today’s article, we’ll be going over some of the top retailers in the
world. We’ll also tell you our top picks and why.

Let’s dive in.

Vipon Giveaways
& Sweepstakes

We’ve worked hard to make Vipon the
place to save money on Black Friday. In fact, if you time it right, Vipon will
save you more than anywhere else this year.

Here’s why:

We’ll have an entire “Black Friday” section
on our website from November 25th to Dec 2nd. Most of
these products will have a coupon between 30% – 80%.

But here’s where it gets good…

On “giveaway” products, you have a chance
to win a 99% discount. $89 products become $0.89. You get the idea. Your odds
of winning are good. And even if you don’t win, you still get 30% – 80% off
top-quality items.

Costco

Costco’s Black Friday events start November
28th. They offer major discounts both in-store and online. Here are
our top picks:

$200 Off Macbook Air 13.3”

Macbook Air may be the most convenient
laptop on the planet. It’s featherlight and just millimeters thick. But that
doesn’t stop it from being powerful. With this computer you can design, study,
and even start a business.

$500 Off VIZEO 70” 4k tv

This TV is absolutely massive, and crystal
clear. Your favorite shows have never looked so good. It’s a smart TV, meaning
it features Netflix, Amazon video, Disney+, YouTube, Hulu, and every other
streaming app you love. And it’s a whopping $500 off…

$125 Off Trinity 72” Stainless Steel
Workbench with Pegboard

If you are looking for a sturdy, modern,
practical workbench that looks amazing… this is your deal. It’s simple and
compact, yet you’ll be blown away by how much storage there is. With attention
to detail obvious in every aspect, this is a deal we rate as can’t miss.

Lowes

Lowes has Black Friday deals available now.
And many of them will be available through December 5th. So, you can
take your time on these great deals. Here are our recommendations:

$1,000 Samsung Stainless Steel French
Door Refrigerator

There’s something about a stainless-steel
French door fridge. It adds a level of comfort and luxury to every setting it’s
in. Modern and strong, stainless steel will be in vogue for years to come. And
at $1,000 off… it’s tough to beat.

$100 Off Artificial Christmas Tree

Look… you might not think it, but Christmas
Trees are a place where a little money goes a long way. With this deal, you can
get a luxury level Christmas Tree. You’ll notice the difference. With
the season coming up, I wanted to include this because it’s an excellent way to
bright up your home, just in time for the holiday.

This PS4 bundle comes with one of three
platform-defining games. The Last of Us: Remastered, God of War, Horizon Zero
Dawn. Each game features a sprawling world and cinema quality storylines.

$160 Off PS4 Pro Bundle

Playstation 4 pro offers the best graphics
of the generation. Featuring more processing and graphics power, PS4 pro games
look and run better than the stock ps4. If you have a nice TV, you will want
the Pro for higher resolution and better graphics.

$20 Off PS4 Controller

Playstation controllers can be expensive.
Yet you’re going to want more than one if you ever want to play it with friends
or family. And this $20 off deal is the perfect time to stock up and save big.

Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club has deals from Nov 29th
– Dec 1st . Here are our top picks:

$70 Sonos Smart Soundbar

This soundbar fits perfectly under all
modern TVs. The sound quality is pristine, featuring a booming bass and a loud,
projecting sound. The levels are matched perfectly, allowing the right sounds
to come out at the right time.

$100 Off Jackson Power Theater Chair

Part of the fun of watching TV and movies
is relaxing. And there’s no better way to relax and watch tv than this power
theater chair. Pop your popcorn and recline back in your chair. You’ve earned
it!

$100 Off Xbox

We had our playstation deals. At Sam’s
Club, you can get an xbox for $100 off. Xbox has a few exclusive games like
Halo and Gears of War.

There’s nothing quite like sitting down
with friends and family for a big Thanksgiving Dinner.

Of course, to get there is a whole
different story. It can take untold hours to fix the meal, plus hundreds—if not
thousands—just to get all the supplies and ingredients.

Which is why in today’s article, I’m going to give you 8 ways to save your bank account without sacrificing the quality of the day.

Have a Budget

The first step is to define exactly how
much you want to spend on Thanksgiving dinner. Why is this important? Well, if
you don’t have a budget in mind, it’s easy for costs to quickly spiral out of
control.

Without a budget, you’ll find yourself
walking down the aisles of the store, putting various things in your basket. By
the time you reach the checkout, you’re shocked with what the price of it all
is. Of course, by that point, it’s usually too late.

On the other hand, when you have a budget,
you’ll make sure to get the important things first. After that, you can add any
extras on that still fit within the budget. If you find you budgeted too
little, you can expand your budget. But by simply having it, you’ll keep costs
contained.

Cook What Food You Need

One of my favorite parts about Thanksgiving
is leftovers. However, what leftovers mean is that you cooked—and bought—more
food than you actually needed.

So, there’s room to save a lot of money
here. Ask yourself how much leftovers you want… or if you need any at all. If
not, you can buy a lot less food than normal, while still making sure everyone
is full the day of.

Now, if you do end up with a lot of
leftovers…

Turn Leftovers into
Hearty Post-Thanksgiving Dishes

These leftovers can turn into amazing
future meals, saving you the cost and time it takes to make them. You can turn
the turkey bones and excess meat into a delicious stew. You can make a
casserole. Or, you can keep it simple and make a turkey sandwich.

Go Light on the Extras

Thanksgiving is more than just a turkey.
There are appetizers, decorations, and all sorts of accessories that go along
with the holiday. If you are looking to save money, make sure to boil it all
down to what you really need. Odds are, that’s a Turkey, potatoes and other
veggies, and a pie. Sure, your home may not look as festive. But the money is
going where it counts… on the table… and in your bank account.

Have Guests Bring Dishes

There’s no reason why you should foot the
bill for everyone at the dinner table. And most times, guests are more than
happy to bring a dish… provided you give them instructions.

When it comes time for Thanksgiving, make a
list of everyone who is going to come. Then figure out what they can bring
based on what you know about them. Some may have speciality dishes they’ve
prepared in the past – ask them if they can bring it. When you do this type of
organizational work for people, it makes it easy for them to help. The more
guests who bring dishes, the better (and cheaper!) the meal is for everyone.

Also, having your guests pitch in goes
beyond food. You can even have people bring decorations. This is especially
good for either people in your family who are good with crafts, or people who
aren’t sure what else they can bring.

Make Decorations from
Leaves

With Fall in full bloom, the leaves outside
are absolutely gorgeous. Why not use them as free decoration? If you press
leaves in between books for a few weeks, you can frame them for one-of-a-kind
artwork that costs almost nothing. You can also incorporate them into wreathes
and other festive décor.

Start Buying Now

If you are the type of person who leaves
Thanksgiving until the last minute, not only is that causing you stress… it’s
costing you big time! Giving yourself time to plan accomplishes a few things.

First, you can only buy the items you need
when they’re on sale. Second, you can comparison shop to make sure you are
getting the absolute best prices for every single item.

When you’re at the store, be sure to
compare generic prices vs name brand. If you are buying only name brand, that
will often cost a few dollars more per item. With an entire shopping cart full,
this adds up big time.

Put an Emphasis on FUN

Thanksgiving may be the biggest “food”
holiday there is. So, the food has to be good. But as long as it meets the
standard of good, it’s not what people will remember the most. No, they’ll
remember the experience they had during Thanksgiving.

So, make it fun. Plan games that the whole
family can enjoy. Gestures, ping-pong, and scavenger hunts are always big hits.
Learn about the history of Thanksgiving and share it at the table. And before
you dive into the meal, go around the table and have everyone list at least one
thing they’re thankful for.

Did you know that the average person gains
5 – 10 lbs over the winter? That’s what happens when it’s cold out. We stay
inside and we don’t move as much.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. In
fact, new research suggests that exercising in the cold can be even more
beneficial than when it’s warm. Why? For one, when your body shivers, you use 5x
more energy than normal.

So if you’re jogging in the cold, parts of
your exercising will be 5x more efficient. Now, although exercising in the cold
has benefits, it needs to be done right. Otherwise, in a worst-case scenario,
it could be dangerous.

How to Be Comfortable in Any Weather

For most of us, our ideal warm temperature
is around 70 – 72 degrees Fahrenheit. When it gets between 50 – 60, most of us
like a jacket. And below 50 is when it really starts to get cold.

The colder it is, the more distance you’ll
want to put between the frigid air and your skin. The best way to do this is to
use the concept of layers.

As the name suggests, when layering, you
wear several different layers of clothing. The colder it is, the more layers
you’ll use… and the warmer materials those layers will consist of.

If it’s 50 degrees, you’ll be fine with a
light fleece or a heavier sweater.

In 30 degrees, a wool shirt, fleece, and
light down jacket will keep you incredibly toasty.

When It Gets Dangerous

Now, when layering, you need to pay
attention to two things:

Types of materials

Activity level

Types of Materials

Different materials handle cold temperature
differently. For example, you want to stay away from cotton at all costs. Why?
Because when cotton gets wet, it loses all its ability to insulate and retain
heat. Worse yet, it actually saps warmth from your body while wearing it.

When you jog or exercise, you’ll sweat…
even if it’s freezing out. If you sweat with cotton on, suddenly it’ll be like
you’re not wearing any protective gear on at all. It doesn’t matter if you have
the heaviest fill down jacket on. With a cotton undershirt, you’re still
freezing.

Here are the kinds of materials you should
look to wear in the winter:

Wool

Synthetic

Down

Wool is great for your lighter layers. Your
shirts, fleece, and even pants if it’s cold enough. Synthetic is generally
cheaper than wool and provides similar effects. Down is a heavy jacket that
really keeps in warmth.

Adding or Shedding Layers

When it’s cold outside, you’ll gear up in
your full winter garb. You might have a wool shirt, a fleece, and a down. Then
you have some synthetic leggings and wool socks on. Since you’re exercising and
building heat, this kind of outfit is good for temperatures as low as 5 – 10
degrees Fahrenheit!

No matter what kinds of material you’re
wearing, you’ll want to be aware of your sweat. If possible, you want to avoid
sweating at all. This is because no matter what kinds of materials you’re
wearing, we want to avoid water in the cold.

As you’re exercising, the moment you feel a
little bit hot, unzip your down jacket. Then, when you feel hot again, take it
off. If you still feel hot after that… take off another layer. I recommend you
take a small backpack with you, so you can easily store these layers. In this
way, you will stay comfortable and warm your entire workout.

Types of Exercises to Do in the Winter

Now that you have your gear sorted, it’s
time to get out and enjoy the cold. In general, cardio based exercises are the
most effective to do in winter. Here are a few examples that we recommend.

Jogging

Jogging in the cold is one of the most
meditative experiences. There’s something about the air when it’s below
freezing. It’s quieter. And your thinking is clear. Generally at the start of
your jog, you’ll be cold. You may start shivering… this is good. You’re burning
a lot of calories. Of course, make sure that you check the conditions before
leaving. If the streets are icy, that could be incredibly dangerous.

Hiking

This one is my personal favorite. I love to
hike in any temperature. But the winter can’t be beat. When the snow falls,
it’s like an entirely new world. Rivers freeze over and it is truly beautiful.
Plus it’s amazing exercise. If you want to hike in the winter, I recommend a
very solid pair of winter boots. Leather is great for the long-term, provided
you treat it correctly. For a more modern take, Gore-Tex boots will stay
waterproof in almost every environment.

Fall is here. The leaves are changing
colors and falling off. It’s beautiful… but it’s also a new chore!

Fortunately, there are upsides. It turns
out there are a lot of amazing uses you can get out of those leaves. Leaves are
packed with nutrients that your grass and soil love. If you take the time to
recycle your leaves in the fall, you’ll have a beautiful yard come spring and
summer.

Make a Mulch

The first step is to mulch your leaves. Why? Because if you just leaf them on the ground, they can smother the grass and plants underneath. And we don’t want that.

Instead, you can use the mulch setting on
your lawnmower to shred those suckers up into ribbon-thin pieces. This makes it
easy to cover the most surface area, and will let plenty of air and nutrients
to the grass beneath.

If your leaves cover the grass evenly, you
can just use the mulch setting without a bag on the lawnmower. If not, you’ll
need to bag up the mulch, then spread it out. Even if the
leaves cover the whole lawn though, you should still make a few bags of mulch
for these next uses.

Important note: make sure you don’t
mulch up seeds along with the leaves. Doing so could create a ton of new tiny
plants come spring!

Composting

If you already have a compost pile, that is
an amazing place to put your mulched up leaves. It’s a match made in heaven.
The shredded leaves will bake in with all the other delicious plant nutrients,
turning your soil into a photosynthesis paradise!

If you don’t have a compost pile…

…you can till the leaves directly into your
soil.

This mixes it all together where it will
sit during the winter… letting it all settle like delicious plant stew. When
the summer comes, that soil will be absolutely teeming with vitamins and
minerals. Anything you plant in it will suck up all those nutrients and make
them absolutely bursting with flavor. Flowers look more vivid, too.

Easier Than Compost: Leaf Mold

Leaf mold is another way to supercharge your
soil. It doesn’t provide nutrients like a traditional compost, but it does make
the soil a lot better at holding water. And, leaf mold is incredibly easy to
make.

All you need to do is take a pile of leaves
and put it into a container… and then leave it. When the leaves are fully
rotted, that’s when you mix it into the soil.
It’s that easy.

Make a Blanket For Your Perennials

If you live somewhere winters can be harsh,
your perennials could freeze in the winter. So, let’s make sure that doesn’t
happen with another few bags of mulched leaves. Gently spread them over your
perennial flowerbeds, making sure to not cover it too tightly.

Just like that, your perennials now have a
blanket for the winter. When it’s time for spring, you can remove the leaves as
the temperature warms. Your flowerbeds are now the perfect temperature and your
perennials will bloom again more beautiful than ever.

Other Great Ideas For Leaves

If you really want to bring a touch of fall
to your home… use some of the leaves as decoration. The organic material looks
beautiful on porches. If you’re crafty, you can even combine them into an
autumn wreath.

But maybe my favorite way to use leaves is to press them. To do this, put individual leaves between two sheets of wax paper. Then pile heavy books on top of them. After two weeks, remove the books. You’ll see perfectly dried leaves that have taken on a subtle transparency. These can be framed on walls, where they form works of art. Straight from nature. You won’t believe how much detail you’ll see in these leaves if you really look at them.

Have Fun With It

When the leaves are raked up, jump in the
piles and take family pictures. Speaking of pictures… when the leaves are at
their peak… go on a hike and take some pictures. You’ll make a memory that
lasts a lifetime.

Final Thoughts

If you follow the tips in this article,
you’ll love what you can do with leaves. It will add a new layer to your fall.
When you work this closely with the season itself, and use the leaves to enrich
all the life around you, it’s a magical feeling. Who knows, it could even
become a new tradition for you. I hope so!

This upcoming Black Friday, there will be
even more deals like this. And if you know what you’re doing, you can save thousands
on very nice products. Honestly, this Black Friday, you could upgrade your
entire life.

So, let’s break down how to do it.

All The Best Deals Are Limited

The truth is, if you don’t plan for Black
Friday, you won’t get the best deals. The best deals are highly limited in
stock and are first come, first serve. You’ll find if you take Black Friday
seriously, and follow the steps in this article, you’ll be able to save far
more than you ever imagined possible.

Figure Out What You Want

Can you think of 5 items you’d really
like to be on sale this Black Friday? Write down the first five items that come
to mind.

Now, all throughout this upcoming week, I
want you to keep your eye open. Whenever you find something you’d love to save
money on, write it down. It’s eye opening to see how many new ideas you get in
one week.

By starting now, you’re able to
really relax into the idea of saving big. And you can figure out what you really
want. It’s a lot better than going out and “looking” for deals day of. (Because
you will almost never find the best deals in broad daylight.)

Explore The Best Products In Each
Category

Once you know what you want, here’s where
it gets fun. Now you’re going to do some shopping. But you’re not going to buy
anything.

So, let’s say you want a brand-new TV.
Well, some TVs are better than others. And like the TV that was $700 off, on
Black Friday, sometimes you really can get the best for cheap. So go online and
browse around.

If you’re up to it, go to the store and
test a few TVs out. Get the details and specifications. Decide on one you like.
Then write down the brand name. Do this with all the items you really want.

Figure Out The Black Friday Policy Of
The Brand

Once you have your brand names, go to
Google. Type in the brand name and item name (if you know it) and “black
Friday”. For example, “LG 4k tv black Friday”.

If there are a lot of articles and videos
about past deals, there’s a good chance it will be on sale again this year.

We recommend you choose 4-5 brands for each
of the products you want. So if you want a tv, do LG, Samsung, Philips, Vizeo,
etc.

Save Each Website

As you’re doing your brand research, try
and find the product on more than one retailer. For example, Amazon, Wal-Mart,
Goodegg, Google Shopping, Best Buy. Find the item wherever you can.

Then, keep a bookmark folder called “Black
Friday deals”. Bookmark each page you visit with the item. That way, when Black
Friday comes, you can quickly check each website, and buy the one that has the
best deal.

Check In The Weeks Leading Up

Many of the items you want will go on sale
before Black Friday. We recommend checking your bookmarks regularly, especially
as it gets closer. Also, Google the brands and “Black Friday” again. Usually
news will come out leading up to Black Friday if that particular item will see
a major reduction.

Take It To The Next Level With
Smartphone Apps

With the right apps, you can compare even
more retailers together at the same time. With some apps, you can even get
Black Friday “leaks”, which actually show you deals before they happen.

Here are the top two we recommend:

TGI Black Friday 2019 – This
app has a massive database of deals. You can use the search to filter through
items quickly. And you can also browse thousands of different products to get
brand new ideas. This app will show you sales that are happening before Black
Friday, as well as the best deals on the products you want on the actual date.

ShopSavvy – This is one of the
top deals apps on the planet. Not only will this app save you big on Black
Friday, it will save you throughout the year. It even has a feature where you
can scan barcodes in store, and ShopSavvy will tell you if there’s a better
price for that item somewhere else! ShopSavvy will alert you of hot new Black
Friday deals on the items you want most, and will help you compare deals
in-store.

Closing Thoughts

Black Friday is the biggest chance to save
all year. By following the steps in this article, you can make sure you take
advantage of this and save huge on products that will really improve your life.

It may be Halloween, but that doesn’t mean
your bank account should be scared. In fact, if you know what to do, Halloween
can be one of the biggest savings months of your year.

In today’s article, I’m going to break down
exactly how to make this year’s Halloween one of your best… and least
expensive… ever!

Make A Budget

The first step I recommend is to make a
budget of how much you’re willing to spend. This will help you think strategically.
And with every purchase you make, you’ll know how much is left over for what
you still need. By taking this simple step to plan ahead first, you ensure that
you’ll be able to have a complete Halloween experience, and healthier
finances than ever.

Use These Tips
To Save On Costumes

One of the most exciting parts of Halloween
are the costumes. But you’ve probably noticed… they can be expensive! Here are
some ways you can save on costumes without sacrificing on quality.

Visit a Thrift Store

During Halloween, the thrift stores near
you will be packed with costumes. This is the first place I recommend looking,
because you can often find exactly what you’re looking for right away.

This is especially true if you don’t
already have a costume in mind. As you’re shopping, you’ll see something that
you like and bam… you just solved two problems at once.

Dave Ramsey suggests a game you can play
with your kids at the thrift store. Give each of them an envelope with $5 – $10
inside. Tell them they can get whatever they want for their costume, but it has
to fit within that budget. Then watch as they go around the store and
creatively put together a costume they’re proud to call their own.

Talk to Your Neighbors

Halloween costumes are a little like prom
dresses. Most people wear them once and never again. That means your neighbors
probably have a lot of high-quality costumes laying around that they aren’t
planning on using this year.

If you provide the leadership and organize
a “costume swap”, you can get everyone in the neighborhood together to switch
costumes.

Make Your Own Costume

If you fancy yourself good at crafts,
Halloween is the perfect time to let your talents fly. You can use apps like
Instagram and TikTok and search the hashtags for Halloween costumes. See what’s
trending and what other people are making. Then you can make the type of
costume that can win a competition for pennies on the dollar… and with your own
hand.

Buy Costumes After Halloween

This won’t help you this year, but it could
save you quite a bit next year. Right after Halloween, costumes will be on
clearance. This is a great way to get an amazing, high-quality costume next
year for about as cheap as it will get.

Other Halloween
Savings Tips

Candy

Stores have major Halloween sales right
before the holiday. So make sure you only buy candy that is specifically on
sale. I especially recommend you go to a bulk food store like Costco or Sam’s
club. Here you’ll be able to find massive boxes of great candy on sale.

Right after holiday is another time when
stores have huge candy sales. This is a great time to load up on all the candy
you’ll need for Christmas.

Decorations

Head to yard-sales, dollar stores, and even
craigslist for inexpensive decorations. Use colored lightbulbs for a cheap way
to get that eerie Halloween effect.

There are two schools of thought regarding
decorations. You can either go cheap and rebuy every year, or you can buy more
high-quality, expensive items that you reuse. Ultimately, after a few years,
the high-quality décor will actually save you money. However, the one-use items
will be far cheaper in the short-term, so use the strategy that works for your
budget.

Entertainment

Make sure to attend free Halloween events
around your city. This can include trunk-or-treats, cook offs, and other fun
community experiences. To find out about these events, use Facebook events for
October. Scroll through and specifically look for free events.

You can also check your city library or
city council website for a list of city sponsored events (usually the most
affordable and value packed).

And of course, there’s no better place to
get free candy than trick-or-treating!

Retail Halloween Sales

Halloween is one of the biggest savings
holidays of the year. This means you can buy all kinds of non-Halloween related
goods for cheaper than usual. Most of your favorite retail stores will have
some kind of fall/Halloween sale.

On Vipon.com, we have a huge list of
Halloween coupons, as well as fall accessories that are on sale for 50% off or
even more.

The easiest way to tell is to check your
credit score. This is basically your financial grade in life. And having a
great score makes almost all major purchases in life easier and cheaper
(including cars, houses, and business loans).

On the other hand, a low score shackles
you, putting serious limits on your ability to do what you want, when you want
to.

In today’s article, I’ll be discussing some
techniques you can use to raise your credit score as quickly as possible. (If
you don’t have any credit and are starting from scratch, make sure to read the
beginner’s section at the end.)

What Goes Into
Your Credit Score?

What makes up a good credit score? Here is
what financial companies look at:

Credit History

Your credit history demonstrates how solid
you are at repaying debt over the long-term. Since keeping good credit over
time takes a lot of discipline, if you can do it, banks feel comfortable
loaning money to you.

The longer your (positive) credit history,
the better your score will be. Which is why it’s good to start using credit as
soon as you believe you responsibly can.

Utilization Rate

Your utilization rate is how much money you
use based on your limit. So if you have a limit of $10,000, using $3,000 is a
utilization rate of 30%.

Banks prefer to lend to people who utilize
less of their available credit. So if you want to quickly raise your credit
score, make sure you’re keeping your utilization rate under 30%.

On Time Payments

This is the bread-and-butter of your credit
score. The longer your history of making on-time payments is, the higher your
credit score will be. For this reason, it’s crucially important that you only
use your credit card for purchases you know you can afford.

Treat it like cash. Don’t spend if you
can’t pay it off. The system is designed to make going into debt as lucrative
as possible for credit card companies. In other words, the second you pay your
bill off late, you’re in their system, playing by their rules.

These are multi-billion-dollar companies
who have spent untold billions on learning consumer behavior. Please do not
think you can outsmart them. Borrow only what you can afford to pay back.

Credit Variety

Banks want to lend to people who have a
long history of paying off a variety of loans. This means if you have a car
loan, mortgage, or other loan and pay it off regularly, your credit score will
increase faster.

What To Do If You Don’t Have Credit

Because of how important credit history is,
the sooner you start the better. However, if you’ve never had credit in your
life, it can be difficult to get started. So here’s what you do:

Go to your local bank and get a secured
credit card. To get this card, you’ll need to pay a deposit usually of around
$300. The bank holds onto this as collateral in case you don’t make your
payments.

Use your secured card on small purchases
throughout the month, and ALWAYS pay it off on time.

After 6 months, you can sign up for a
non-secured credit card. But keep the same strategy. After about a year of
doing this, you can sign up for a charge card, which will allow you to build
your credit even faster.

Common Credit
Myths Busted

Now we’re going to talk about some credit
card myths that a lot of people believe, even though they’re 100% false!

Myth #1: You need to pay interest or
keep a balance to build credit

Some people think the only way to build
credit is to be LATE on your payment, therefore paying interest. This is
patently false. Paying interest has not been shown to raise your credit score,
so why give the banks any more money than you have to?

Myth #2: It hurts your credit score to
check it online

It does not hurt your credit score to check
it. In fact, you can use a website like CreditKarma.com to check your credit
score whenever you’d like. We recommend checking it at least once a month to
make sure everything is going in the right direction.

Myth #3: Having Too Many Credit Cards Is
Bad

Actually, having more than 1 credit card
gives you more credit, which makes it easier to have a low utilization rate.
For example, if you have 1 credit card with a limit of $10,000, and you use
$3,000 of credit, your utilization rate is 30%. But if you have 10 credit cards
each with a $10,000 limit, you have $100,000 credit and now only have a 3%
utilization rate!

It’s not exactly a ‘sexy’ task, but it’s gotta be done at least once a
year. If the thought of deep cleaning your kitchen makes you groan, don’t worry
– this article will not only show you some innovative ways to easily
deep clean your kitchen, it will show you how to save money the whole way
through.

Ready? Let’s do it!

You Will Need…

Before we get started, I’m going to recommend a few very affordable
tools. These will make your job a lot easier, and most of them cost just $1.

Duster

Spray Bottle

Cleaning Cloth

Microfiber Cloth

Scrub Brush

Clorox Mop

I recommend you search these on Vipon first, as we often have coupons for
50% off or more. If you can’t find a coupon, then go to your local Dollar Tree
for the second cheapest option.

Making Your Cheap, All-Purpose, Natural Cleaner

To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of using harsh chemicals to clean. I
hate how it makes my kitchen smell like chemicals for days. I also don’t like
what it does to my hands. The cheap solution? I make my own cleaner with
vinegar and water.

To make your solution, mix equal parts distilled water and white vinegar
into a spray bottle. You can now use this just about EVERYWHERE in your kitchen
to kill all the germs, get rid of dirt and grime, and make the place spotless.
Yes, it will smell a little like vinegar. Personally, I far prefer it to
chemical cleaner.

Setting The Stage

Once you’ve made your cleaner, you want to clear off all the countertops
and surfaces. If you keep pretty organized, this is an easy task. If not, well,
what better time than the present! Wash all the dishes and put them away. Make
sure every surface is clear.

Dust From The Top Down

First, we want to dust everything from the top down. Use a dollar tree
duster to clean the top of the cabinets and the top of the fridge. Don’t forget
the tops of your doors! If you have drapes on your windows, take them down and
toss them in the washing machine.

By starting from the top, all the dust gradually falls onto the cabinets.
Then, when you dust the cabinets, the dust falls to the floor, where it gets
swept up. This means you never need to clean something twice!

Bust Out The Water + Vinegar

Now for the fun part. Take out your homemade cleaning solution and use a
dollar tree cloth to clean the cabinets, countertops, light fixtures, and
electrical outlets. The water + vinegar is simple, but it’s going to surprise
you how effective it is! It’s true: you don’t need borderline radioactive
chemicals to deep clean.

When it comes to cleaning stainless steel appliances like the fridge, use
your solution with a dollar tree microfiber cloth. And here’s a special tip: if
you want your stainless steel to look better than ever, put a tiny dab
of olive oil on the microfiber cloth, then wipe it on the stainless steel for
an incredible shine.

Oven Cleaning Hack

Now for what is usually the tough part: cleaning the oven. Now, most
ovens come with a self-cleaning mode. But personally I don’t like how it heats
and stinks up the whole house. So, I choose to use a baking soda + water paste.
First, clean the oven of any food and crumbs that are easily picked up.

Then, mix soda + water together until it’s the consistency of toothpaste,
and spread it all over the oven. Let it sit for about 30 minutes until it’s
totally dry. Then, use a damp cloth and wipe it up. You’ll be shocked at just
how much grime this mixture gets out of your oven, and it takes about 15
minutes cleaning time total. Not bad!

For the oven racks, here’s another trick. Put an old towel down in the
bathtub and fill it up about halfway with hot water. Then put in half a cup of
laundry detergent. Let sit for about 20 minutes. Use a dollar tree scrubber to
scrub away all the grime. Again it’s going to come off immediately with
virtually 0 effort. And you’ll be left with cleaner oven racks than you’ve ever
had before!

Lastly, don’t forget to remove the oven filters from the top of
your stove (where the fan is). Over time these get incredibly grimy. Don’t
worry – you can put them in your dishwasher and they’ll be good as new.

Don’t Forget The Faucet

Last but not least, don’t forget your faucet! Take a zip-lock bag and
fill it up with white wine vinegar. Then tie it around your faucet so the
faucet is resting in the vinegar. Let sit for 30 minutes, then scrub with an
old toothbrush. Again, it will look good as new with almost no effort!

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, deep cleaning your kitchen doesn’t have to be a
nightmare. When you use all these tricks, it can actually be fun – and your
kitchen will look better than ever. Best of all, by using these methods, you
save a bunch of money, giving you a luxury clean feeling while hardly costing a
dime!

Vipon is now social! Under every deal,
you’ll see comments from shoppers just like you. These comments will tell you
everything you need to know about the deal. This gives you a second opinion on
the value, saving you time and money.

And that’s not all. Now you can leave
comments to help other
shoppers. And you earn Vipon points by leaving comments. What are those? I’m glad you asked!

Earn Cash With Vipon Reward Points

Now when you visit Vipon, you’ll earn
rewards just for using the platform. You can earn points for

Register a shopper account and verify it

Daily Login

Leave comments

Get coupons

Complete your profile

And more…

After you have enough points, you can
exchange them for
product, or even cash. (If you choose cash, you can
transfer it to your PayPal account once you hit the threshold.)

Save Even More Time and Money With The
New Vipon App!

Now for the best news: we’re releasing an
all new version of the Vipon app. This is the most customizable version of the
app yet. You can customize your name and avatar. You can also change how deals
show up to save you time and money, there’re two layouts available.

The all-new Vipon app seamlessly
incorporates social activities into saving. Comments are easy to scroll through
and highly readable. And leaving your own comments is as easy as swiping your
finger.

In fact, with the new Vipon app, everything
is now easier. We’ve put a major focus on refining the user experience, and
we’re confident you will love the new design.

We’re Committed to Saving You Money On
Amazon

Over 45,000 Amazon coupons are posted on
Vipon every single day. We work hard to find the best sellers and bring their
products to you at a better price than anywhere else.

With our new update, Vipon is now even
better. Best of all, you can now be apart of Vipon in a new way. By leaving
comments, you can help shoppers and earn rewards. So what are you waiting for?
Download the new Vipon app today and start saving!

If you understand how to book cheap plane
tickets, the sky is the limit. You can go anywhere—even out of the country—for
prices that might surprise you.

In today’s article, we’ll give you a few
tips that can save you hundreds, if not thousands, on plane tickets from now
on.

Be Flexible

The best prices for flights often come when
it’s not convenient. Last minute, odd dates, and unique locations. If you HAVE
to go to a specific location, at a specific date, on a specific airline, you’re
generally going to be very limited in what kinds of deals are available.

On the other hand, if you’re just looking
to go somewhere, the world is your oyster. You can sign up for services
that will alert you about random tickets (as we’ll discuss shortly). The prices
on these tickets will be far lower than usual – sometimes by hundreds of
dollars.

It can be exciting to go somewhere you
never thought about going, too. When the price is right, you get the ticket.
Then you look up different places to see. It’s an adventure. If you have this
kind of attitude, you’ll find yourself with an abundance of travel
opportunities, no matter what your budget.

Use Incognito Mode

Most people buy their tickets online these
days. If you buy the very first time you search for a flight, this is fine.
However, if you like to search multiple times before choosing a ticket, you
need to be aware of a somewhat shady industry practice.

All of the popular web browsers today track
cookies. This means a website knows when you visit a website, and then visit
again. To some extent, they are tracking your behavior. If an airline website
sees you checking on a flight over and over again over the course of a week or
so, they will often artificially inflate the price. This is to get you off the
fence and give you the urgency you need to buy the ticket.

You can protect yourself by using either
private or incognito browsing. In Google Chrome, you can open a private session
by pushing cmd + shift + m (mac) or cntrl + shift + m (windows).

Book Your Ticket on One of These Websites

To get the cheapest possible prices, you
should use a plane ticket aggregate site. This is a website that searches
multiple airlines at once, giving you the best possible price.

Here is a list of three of the best:

Kayak.com

Cheapoair.com

Skyscanner

If you can check one of these websites at
least a month ahead of your travel date, you’ll generally save at least $100,
and usually even more.

Use a Ticket Alert App

If you’re open minded, a ticket alert app
is by far the cheapest way to get great plane tickets. These apps will send you
periodic notifications whenever a plane ticket to anywhere is cheap. For
example, next weekend, there could be a plane ticket to Miami for 80% off the
normal price.

With these kinds of apps, you can either
set a location you want to visit, dates you want to visit, or keep it open
ended. If you set a location, the app will alert you whenever that location is
very low. If you set a date, the app will alert you of flights to anywhere
leaving on that date at an amazing price.

A good example of this kind of app is
called “Hitlist”. It’s free, and you can set it up in seconds.

Know Your Budget Airlines

Certain airlines go above and beyond when
it comes to cutting ticket prices. But, this comes at a cost. Most people are
already uncomfortable when flying. But these budget airlines remove most of the
remaining “luxuries”. This means less leg rooms, no snacks, and you may even
have to print your own boarding pass or pay a fee!

If you’re willing to be uncomfortable for a
few hours to save a lot, it can be worth it. If you do decide to fly a budget
airline, be sure to read all the instructions and fine print carefully. Budget
airlines will generally charge a fee for anything that is not explicitly stated
as coming with the ticket price.

With that in mind, here are some top budget
airlines based on their location:

USA: Southwest, Jet Blue, Frontier, Spirit.

Canada: Swoop, WOW Air, Porter.

Europe: Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling.

Asia: Air Asia, Tiger Air, Jet star.

Sign Up for Reward Programs

When you find an airline that you like, sign up for their rewards program. That way, every time you fly you add up miles that can later be exchanged for free flights. It takes just a few minutes and can pay off huge over time.

Well, that’s about as much as the average
person can expect to get from hosting a successful garage/yard sale. In fact,
you can probably make even more. It’s not uncommon to pull in $3,000+ from a
single sale… especially if you’ve never had one before.

The truth is, most of us accumulate a lot
of stuff over our lives that we just don’t need anymore. By selling it at a
discount, you give people the opportunity to save a ton of money. You get rid
of excess stuff that’s doing nothing more than taking up
space. And you put a big chunk of change into your bank account!

Here are our top tips to make your garage sale a total success.

Have it Early
in the Month

Most people get paid at the first of the
month. So if you have your garage sale at the first of the month, people will
have plenty of money to spend.

Usually, a weekend is the best time to host
your sale, since that’s when most people are free. If you have enough items,
you can host your sale throughout the weekend. This way, when people come to
visit, they may see something their friend or other family member would love.
If you have it over the entire weekend, they can bring that person the next
day.

Also, make sure you don’t have your garage sale on a holiday weekend. Most people have plans on holiday weekends and going to a garage sale is the furthest thing on their mind.

Promote,
Promote, Promote!

The success of your garage sale is directly
tied to how well you promote it. After all, I can guarantee that there is somebody
in your city who needs every single item you’re selling. If you can advertise
it well enough to reach them, you ensure you will make the most money possible.

Also, the more people who are shopping, the
higher the price you’ll get for most items. If only a handful of people show
up, you’ll have to sell your items for what they’re willing to pay for them. If
your sale is packed, on the other hand, if one person won’t buy due to the
price, odds are, another person will.

There are two approaches to promoting your
sale: online and offline. We recommend you use both. For offline marketing,
grab some large neon colored signs from the store. Then get a big, fat, permanent
marker. Write “YARD SALE” on the signs, with the date of the sale, and the
address of the location. Look at them from a distance to make sure someone in a
car will be able to clearly read them.

Then, post them up in the parts of your
neighborhood with the most traffic.

For online advertising, you can search for
Groups on Facebook where people buy/sell/swap items online. Post some clear
pictures of some of the best goods you’re selling with the price to these
groups. Be responsive to the comments and answer any questions.

By using these two simple approaches, you’ll have a flood of people buying your excess stuff.

Put Your Best
Items Up Front

As you’re going through your stuff, you’ll
find some items that you know are going to be hits. Be sure to put these front
and center so they’re the first thing people see when they pull up.

Not only do these items grab attention, they’re also very easy for people to take pictures of and share with their friends. If they see a basketball hoop at an amazing price, they may post it on Facebook telling everyone where to find it.

Put Your Sales
Hat On

If you’ve ever been to a store like
Nordstrom, you’ll know that almost as soon as you set foot inside it, a
salesperson is greeting you. They’ll ask you how your day is going and,
importantly, what you’re looking for. By knowing why you’re in the store, the
salesperson can direct you to all the items you may want to buy.

If you want to maximize your earnings in
your own sale, adopt a similar approach. Talk to people and see why they’re at
the sale. Ask them what they’re looking for. Get an idea about who they are.
Then, trust your gut. If your gut tells you they may be interested in an item,
recommend it to them.

Offer bulk discounts if they want to buy
multiple items. Or, if they want a discount, you can give it to them provided
they share the sale on Facebook.

Final Thoughts

Having your own yard sale isn’t rocket science. And it’s one of the fastest, most sure-fire way to inject your bank account with a nice chunk of change. On top of this, you’re clearing out a lot of excess stuff that probably does nothing but cause you stress. That’s what we like to call a win-win-win!

Yet most of us rarely eat truly fresh food.
We might buy something at the grocery store that’s traveled in a truck for days
before reaching us. Or, we might pay for a meal in a high-end restaurant,
without knowing when the food we’re eating arrived.

The fresher the food, the more it’s teeming
with life and vital nutrients. The better it tastes. And the better you’ll
feel. Best of all, if you know what you’re doing, this food can also be the
cheapest.

The secret is to know how to take advantage of your local Farmer’s Market. So read on to learn a few tricks that will help you pay less than grocery store prices for produce better than high-end restaurants!

Adopt a
Flexible Cooking Style

One key to save at a Farmer’s Market is
developing meals on the fly. For example, you may want to make a nice, fresh
salad. So you go to the market. Romaine lettuce is just as much as the grocery.
But you find a vendor selling Kale for a very good price. As you continue
shopping, you find more deals on cheese and mushrooms.

When you finally leave the Farmer’s Market, you have all the ingredients for an incredible salad. It’s all in season and fresh as can be. If you are flexible enough at cooking to make a meal on the fly, not only will you save money, you’ll create unique, delicious meals that you’d normally never think of!

Ask the
Vendor’s Questions

In a Farmer’s Market, vendors will often
return for an entire season. Don’t be afraid to get to know them. Asking them
what’s for sale or what’s in season is not just a way to save, but the
potential start of a new relationship.

When you find a fair vendor, you can return every week for similar prices. The better you know them, the more they’ll clue you on to special deals. If you know them well enough, they may even give you a special price!

Know the Peak
Season for Your Favorite Fruits + Veggies

You probably know that different fruits and
veggies are “in season” at certain times of the year. When they’re in season,
not only is the price lower, the food is as fresh as it’s ever going to get.

What you might know is that the price can
change during the season. This is because most farmers want to be either
the first or last person selling that food. If they’re the first-person selling
Strawberries, they can set the price. If they have to compete with 50 other
farmers, the market sets the price.

That’s why you’ll find the best deals
during peak season. This is when every farmer is selling the same
veggie.

Run this tool before you go to the market.
Then, only buy items that you see multiple vendors selling it. This
means the produce is in peak season and will be the freshest—and cheapest.

Ask for “Ugly”
Produce

Customers prefer their produce to look
good. We want the crisp, clean apple over the bruised, malformed one. Yet the
truth is, in most cases, ugly produce is just as delicious, if not more so,
than pretty.

So when you’re shopping, you can
specifically ask the vendor if they have uglier produce on sale for a discount.
Take it home and cut off the bruises. I promise – it will taste just as fresh
and delicious. And your bank account will love how little you paid for it!

Go on Bad
Weather Days

When the weather is warm and sunny,
everyone is out at the market. Vendors have plenty of customers. So they are
much less likely to make a deal with you.

If you go when it’s raining, on the other
hand, you might be uncomfortable, yet you’ll be one of the few customers there.
If you’re shopping at a stall with a lot of goods and very few customers, don’t
be afraid to ask for a deal. In most cases, the vendor would rather make less
money than no money. And you can walk away from the market with tons of fresh
goods.

Stay Until the
End

At the end of the Farmer’s Market, vendors
still want to make money. However, by this time most of the customers have
left. This is the perfect time to go around asking for any last-minute
specials. More often than not, vendors will be willing to give you a deal since
you’re the last one around spending money.

Buy in Bulk

As a general rule, when you buy in bulk,
you can save. This is even more true at Farmer’s Markets, where a vendor may be
unsure if they will sell out of all their stock. If you have an extra freezer,
this is the perfect way to stock up on delicious produce for a whole month or
longer.

It’s a good idea to do this once you’ve visited the market a few times. By then you’ll know the vendors better. And you’ll know who is likely to give you the best price.

And they’re right – especially if you’re on a budget. But you know what? You still deserve to live the good life. That’s why in today’s article, we’re going to give you 7 tips to get that luxury feel… without breaking the bank.

Use Coconut Oil

Coconut oil smells and tastes amazing. Plus, it’s one of the most useful natural substances on the planet!

It can moisturize your skin, making it soft and smooth. It can condition your hair, making it look like you just spent a fortune at a high-end salon. It can make your teeth whiter, fight infections, improve wound healing, boost bone health, and more.

Plus, it’s delicious to cook with! All for an extremely low and affordable price.

Get Massages and Hair Cuts From Students

We all store tension in our bodies and massage
is a great way to get it out. Unfortunately, it’s very expensive, with many masseuses
charging $75 per hour at a minimum! That is, unless you go to a massage school.

Here, students are learning their
technique, and are looking for someone to practice on. Although it probably
won’t be as good as a professional, it will only cost a fraction of the price.
Some schools will even give hour long massages for as low as $20!

The same technique works with haircuts. You can get professional cuts that would normally cost $100+ for $50 or even less.

Rent

Whatever it is you want to buy, chances are
you can rent it for a whole lot less. I’m not just talking about cars and
houses. You can rent clothes, cameras, computers, skateboards… you name it.

For example, a high-end Canon camera will cost you north of $3,000. However, to use it for an entire day will generally only cost $80 – $100. A piano that costs $5,000 to buy may come to just $50 a month to rent.

Mood Lighting

Part of getting that luxury feeling is being totally comfortable in your home. The fastest—and cheapest–way to do that is to get a few new lights. You don’t have to go crazy. There are many beautiful lights sold at Vipon for $10 – $20. When in doubt, you can always buy a string of Christmas lights to warm up any corner.

Set them up in strategic places and turn them on at night. I guarantee you will love the new feel!

Check Facebook Events

Did you know that Facebook has a calendar?
It’s true. You can use it to find thousands of events right in your area. And
you can also see whether they require a ticket or are free (tons of them are
free).

These events can range from painting
lessons, poetry readings, art gallery strolls, lectures and more. I once
attended a presentation on The Beatles. It totally changed how I view one of my
favorite bands, and it was completely free!

This is a great way to meet new, like-minded friends, and get involved more in your local community.

Buy Cubic Zirconia Jewelry

We all love the glitz and glimmer of
diamonds. Yet few of us can afford to wear them regularly. Unless, of course,
you buy Cubic Zirconia!

Cubic Zirconia is a man-made material that
looks exactly like a diamond. And I mean exactly! In fact, when it was first
invented, it was so cheap it threatened to put diamond retailers out of
business.

Then diamond retailers came up with a plan.
They noticed that Cubic Zirconia was actually more perfect than real
diamonds. So they started saying that unless your diamond had flaws, it wasn’t
worth anything!

Of course, you can only see those flaws
under a high-powered jewelry microscope.

In other words, there is absolutely no way a human eye can tell the difference between a $2,000 diamond ring and a $29 cubic zirconium. So ball out!

Drink More Water

Did you know that you’re 60% water? If
you’re not getting enough, it will impact every aspect of your life. Being
dehydrated, even just a little bit, can cause headaches, muscles aches,
exhaustion, itchy skin, dry eyes… the list goes on and on.

Why not fill up a fresh glass right now? Take your time and enjoy it. Make sure you’re drinking enough throughout the day – especially if you like coffee (which dehydrates you). The rule of thumb is 8 glasses every day. And of course, water is free!

Closing
Thoughts

As you can see, you don’t need a fortune to feel like a King or Queen. Try using these methods to get that luxury feel without feeling guilty. Meanwhile you can keep the savings and, eventually, use it for something you’ve always wanted.

Traveling the world is a wonderful thing.
You get exposed to a brand-new culture that can transform your worldview. You
see sights that absolutely blow you away and form memories that last a lifetime.
And, it will even give you a new appreciation for your hometown when you
return.

Sadly, many people believe that
international vacations are out of their price range. But the truth is that
some high-quality international vacations are cheaper than staying in the USA!

In today’s article, I’ll show you 4 of our personal favorites.

Barcelona,
Spain

A Europe trip is often seen as an expensive
proposition—and for good reason. France, Germany, Italy, and many other countries
cost thousands of dollars per week. Spain, on the other hand, is not only an
incredible vacation spot, it’s affordable.

You’ll love walking under the shade of the
tall plane trees in Las Ramblas. Or, if you’re a foodie, you can’t miss seafood
Paella right on the beach. And if you’re a lover of art, you’ll find the
architecture of the Sagrada-Familia breathtaking.

And don’t forget the beach! With
temperatures in the high 70s throughout the fall and a boardwalk that stretches
for miles, you’re certain to get the perfect tan.

As with any international trip, the plane
ticket makes up the bulk of the cost. Tickets to Barcelona are surprisingly
cheap, though, with many deals for under $500 from San Francisco (as long as
you avoid July and August—tourist hot months).

Guangzhou, China

When most people think of a vacation in
China, they think of the Great Wall. Yet China has so much more to offer… and
all at incredibly affordable prices. Best of all, most of the major cities are
totally connected by fast, easy-to-use subway trains. This means you can travel
all over, usually for less than $2 a day!

Guangzhou is the southern capital of China
and home to the Cantonese people. It’s home to some of the most delicious food
in Asia, including world-famous Dim Sum.

In Guangzhou, we recommend exploring the
historic district. There you can see original, ancient brick roads, and enjoy
some of the Cantonese street food.

If you’re not afraid of heights, you’re
going to love Canton Tower. Prior to August of 2013, the Canton Tower was the tallest
building in the world. The front of the elevator is made of glass, and watching
the ground disappear as you rocket upwards is an amazing thrill.

Roundtrip flight prices to Guangzhou can often be found for less than $500. And you can stay in a nice location and eat all the delicious Cantonese food you can handle for less than $30 a day.

Chiang Mai,
Thailand

When most people think of Thailand, they think of the beautiful tropical beaches—of which there are many. However, Thailand also has some of the most incredible mountain scenery on the planet. And most of it is found in the city of Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest
cities, so you have many of the amenities and comforts you expect in the USA.
It also has a large expat community, so many of the citizens speak fluent
English. The locals are always smiling and used to foreigners.

And the food is to die for.

Seriously. Thailand is known for some of
the most delicious food in the world. Seafood, coconut curries, crispy pork,
and more can be found for pennies on the dollar, often made to order right in
front of you!

Plane tickets are cheapest between May and October. Fall is the best time to visit, since it’s after the incredibly rainy monsoon season that lasts the entire summer. After the plane ticket, you can expect to pay just $20 – $39 a day for a quality time in Chiang Mai.

Bogota,
Colombia

If you’re more adventurous at heart, you’ll
never forget a vacation to Colombia! Known for its incredible nature, warm,
welcoming people, and a vibrant night life that never quits, Bogota is quickly
becoming a must-visit city.

The first thing you’re going to want to do
in Bogota is explore La Candelaria. This is the historic center of the city.
Walk the brick streets and enjoy the energy of the locals. Although Bogota is
becoming more popular, it’s still semi-rare to see a tourist. As a result
you’ll get many people looking at you with curiosity.

Ride the tram to the top of the Monserrate
for a view of the entire city (and surrounding valley).

Round trip tickets are generally less than
$500, making it one of the most affordable international vacations you can
find. Once you land, you can live in a safe area and eat delicious food for $32
a day total. Not bad!

Every shopper’s favorite time of the
year is right around the corner. The annual shopping holiday Amazon Prime Day
is happening on July 15th and 16th and shopping lovers
around the globe are getting ready for some serious shopping. And yes, it is
reserved for Amazon’s Prime users only, but you can sign up for a free 30-day
trial to take advantage of the best deal ahead of you.

Although Amazon Prime Day offers discounts and special prices on everything you might (or might not) need, it’s important that you shop smartly and avoid throwing your money away. If you’re not quite sure how to save money on Amazon Prime Day, the guide below will help you do it.

Let’s break it down together.

Avoid Fake Deals

You have to be aware that, during Amazon
Prime Day, you’re not the only one looking for a great deal. More than 2
million sellers on Amazon will try to make the best out of these two days, and
sell as many items as possible.

To enhance their chances, some Amazon
sellers will use tricks and set up fake deals.

For example, they’ll change and increase
the original price of an item, and then lower the price offering a fake
discount.

This way, they’re tricking you into
thinking you’ve found a great deal when you’re actually paying the regular
price.

To avoid fake deals such as these you need
to:

check the price history of the item in question

use apps to track the pricing of desired items

double check any deal that sounds too good to be true

Don’t let them trick you with imaginary deals.

Compare with Other Stores

Just because it’s Amazon Prime Day and
you’ve found something that seems to be a great deal, you should still check
other stores and compare the prices.

Therefore, you should stick to this
routine:

add items
to your shopping list

before you
purchase, run a little investigation

visit other
stores and look for those exact items

compare the
prices to ensure you really did find a great deal

purchase

It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Sneak Peek Deals Notifications

You want to be well-prepared for Prime Day and find the best deals out there so as to save money.

To make sure you’re well-informed and know
where to look first, you should:

download
the Amazon App

enable
personalized notifications

get
notified when sneak peek Prime Day deals start

This way, you’ll be one of the first to get the great deals and shop the items you desire at lower prices.

Prime Day Launches

Amazon always walks the extra mile for its
users, so for Prime Day, they offer special Prime Day Launches.

What are these?

products
never seen before

available
for a specific time period

available
to Prime users only

Check out Amazon’s Prime Day Launches section even before the actual Prime Day to get the best deals.

Get Your Credit

If you plan on doing shopping via Amazon,
it’s certainly the best idea for you to download their app. The app will make
the whole process easier, but there’s more to it than just convenient shopping.

Let’s take a look at how you can get
shopping credit on Amazon:

download
the Amazon App and sign up for the
first time to get a $10 credit

download
the Amazon Assistant app and sign up
for the first time to get another $10 credit

spend at
least $10on Whole Foods Market, and
you’ll get a $10 discount on your next Amazon purchase

Make the most out of your shopping and claim your credits and discounts.

Twitch Sells Out

If you’re a gamer,
then you must know about the world’s leading live streaming platform for gamers
called Twitch.

In collaboration with Amazon, they’ve
prepared an event called Twitch Sells
Out: A Prime Day Special Event, and it starts July 15 at 10 am PT.

Watch this stream to get notified about the
best Prime Day deals for gamers and get in on all the incredible deals they’ve
got lined up.

Non-Tech Deals

Amazon Prime Day may be primarily focused
on tech deals and allowing you to purchase all those gadgets you’ve always
wanted at a lower price.

However, it’s not a tech-exclusive event.

On the contrary, you can find products and items of all kind so make sure you keep your eyes wide open for anything that comes to your mind

Shop with Cashback

Another great way to save money while
shopping on Amazon Prime Day is to use a cashback service for each of your
purchases.

You can get a 10% or 15% of your purchase
back or be awarded in coupons and gift cards.

Find a cashback service your trust and make sure to use it on Prime Day.

Amazon Alexa

Finally, you can always use that extra set
of hands to find just the items you’re looking for during Prime Day.

There’s no one better to help you out than
Alexa.

Use Alexa to:

find what
you’re looking for

search for
best deals

select
items and make purchases

set
reminders to yourself

Get ahead of others with the help of Alexa
and you’ll be the first one the find the best deals and save money.

Final Thoughts

With Amazon Prime Day 2019 coming up, you better get ready for shopping and saving your money. All you have to do is know what to look out for, how to find the best deals, and how to spend your money wisely.

Hopefully, this guide will help you shop
smartly, save money, and enjoy your newly purchased items.

About the author: Daniela McVicker is an editor at Top Writers Review. She is fascinated by technology evolution and is constantly keeping an eye on corporations to check so that she can be the first to spread the news when a new product is launched.

Here are 7 easy ways to make this fourth of July the best you’ve ever had (for you and your family).

Go on a Picnic

The weather in July is notoriously good all across the nation. So there really isn’t a better time to pack some sandwiches up and have a picnic by the lake. During the picnic you can read famous stories about the holiday, like Paul Revere’s midnight ride, the Declaration of Independence or Valley Forge.

Lounge in the
Pool

There’s no better antidote to the hot July sun than relaxing in a cool pool. Stretch out and improve your tan, lay on a pool floatie and read a book, or splash around with the kids. Just make sure you don’t forget the sunscreen!

Host a Block
Party

July 4th is the perfect time to
get together with your friends and extended family. And there’s no better way
to do that than hosting a block party. Arrange for people to bring their own
food and dishes. While you’re firing up the grill, here are some fun games
everyone can play:

Red White & Blue Tag

Give everyone a strip of paper that is
either red, white or blue. When you tag another person, you get their strip of
paper. The first to have all three wins.

American History Trivia

Test your knowledge of American history
with a game of history trivia. Create questions relating to famous battles
(like Lexington & Concord), famous people (like Patrick Henry and Ben
Franklin), and famous locations (like Valley Forge).

Bike Decorating Contest

Have all the kids decorate their bikes with
red, white and blue streamers. When the bikes are decorated, go on a bike ride
so they can show them off to everyone.

Capture the American Flag

Just like capture the flag, only you use
one blue flag and one red one. Put them at opposing ends of the field. If
someone is tagged, they’re out. The team that brings the flag from one side of
the field to the other wins!

Water Balloon Dodge Ball

This one is perfect for especially hot
days. Fill up a bunch of red, white, and blue balloons with water. Then set up
two sides on a small field. Anyone who gets hit by a balloon is out for the
remainder of the match. The team who manages to get all the opposing side out
wins.

Air Mail Ballots

Get a few red, white and blue frisbees.
Then cut a slit in a cardboard box that’s big enough for them to fly through
with relative ease. Decorate the cardboard box like a ballot box you would put
votes in. Stand back 10 – 15 feet and try and throw the frisbees through the
ballot box. The person who can throw the most in wins.

After you play these games and everyone gets their fill of the delicious food, you can bust out the fireworks for a magnificent closing display.

Make Your Own
Festive Crafts

Let’s face it – red, white and blue looks
good on everything! From painted pots to a revolutionary war inspired quilt,
there are countless ways to add your own touch of patriotism around the house.

Make a Hot Dog
Station

Who doesn’t love hot dogs? Take it to the
next level this 4th with a dedicated hot dog station. Include all
the essentials like ketchup, mustard and buns. Take things to the next level
with barbeque sauce, relish, chili, or anything else you can think of.

Watch a Parade

July 4th may have the best
parade of the year. With music, games, entertainment and food trucks galore, a
4th of July parade is something the whole family can enjoy. Make
sure to arrive at the parade grounds early to secure a good seat.

Take
Independence Day Photos

Dress up like your favorite 4th
of July hero (don’t forget the fake beards) and take group photos together.
Hold flags and pop confetti poppers for memories that will last a lifetime.

Go on a Trip

The 4th of July is different all
across the nation. Visit Washington D.C., and you can see the fireworks display
right on the Lincoln Memorial (with every explosion reflecting in the pool
below). Visit Seattle for a waterfront fireworks display that is one of the
best in the nation. In San Diego, you can see the fireworks on the beach.

Philadelphia and Boston are both homes to a huge amount of colonial history. Schedule a tour of the city in the days leading up to the fourth, gain a new, deep appreciation for the history, and cap it all off with a brilliant display of fireworks. What’s not to love?

With Fathers’ Day just around the corner,
it’s time to start planning the activities to make this occasion a day to
remember for your dad. But just because you are making Fathers’ Day extra
special, it doesn’t mean you have to empty your piggy bank to do so.

Small and thoughtful gifts often evoke the best reactions when it comes to opening presents, and free activities are often the best way to connect the whole family for special events.

Make Sure He Looks the Part

You can’t let your dad walk around on this
special day without letting the world know how special he is to you. A fun way
to accomplish this is to buy him a T-shirt that accurately depicts his
abilities as a parent.

Whether you choose this legendary shirt, or this cool graphic tee to show how great your dad is, everyone who sees him this Fathers’ Day will know just how proud you are of him.

Take the Family Out for a Picnic

Since most dads spend most of their waking hours at work to provide an income for you and your family, they cherish the time that you get to spend together as a family.

There’s no better free activity than taking
your family out for a picnic.

So pile up your favorite food, snacks and drinks in this picnic lunchbox , wine tote bag and head out to either your local park or the beach to spend the day playing games, eating your favorite foods and supplying your dad with his favorite drinks.

Whether that’s putting up some shelves or
taking on something larger like fixing his old motorbike, these jobs often fall
down the priority list when he devotes his time to making your weekend
activities happen instead.

So why not give your time back by helping
him with his latest DIY project? Many fathers would appreciate the help, as
finishing the job will give them a great sense of satisfaction.

Help him to get organized before starting the work with this useful utility belt, which will keep all on the tools he needs in one place whilst you give him the help he needs to complete the job.

Find Steep Discounts On Vipon

It may be the case that you know exactly
which gift to give your dad this Fathers’ Day. In which case, you are probably best
served by shopping on Vipon to get the best possible price for the products
you’re interested in purchasing.

Whether that’s a pair of new shoes, or a new pair of shades for the summer, Vipon has over 40,000 products to choose from. With discounts of up to 90%, you are sure to find yourself a bargain here at Vipon!

Fathers’ Day Doesn’t Have to Cost the Earth

As we’ve shown you, you don’t have to rack
up huge bills to make this year’s Fathers’ Day extra special. The old saying
“It’s the thought that counts” is just as true today as it ever has been.

So plan a day full of meaningful activities, and of course grab a few discounted presents to make your dad feel good about himself on this special day.

The bottom 20% of American households ranked by income have no savings whatsoever — a shocking statistic when you think about how many unforeseen bills could pop up at any time. Luckily for you, there’s a whole host of everyday habits that you can break today that will help you save.

Eating far too much takeout food

Takeout food is so popular because it’s
convenient, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for your wallet. It will typically
cost several times as much as preparing the same meal at home. By all means,
treat yourself, but don’t make it your go-to way of feeding yourself when
you’re out and about.

“We actively try and avoid too much takeout in the office, and reserve it just for special occasions. That way we get a healthy lunch from home that enables us to be more productive, and we each save a little bit of money that soon adds up to a significant amount” — says Kate Turner, Head of HR department at Get Good Grade.

Not getting outside and working out

Working long hours is not necessarily going to
be conducive to your long-term health, which in turn costs you money. Medical
bills, sickness and illness, and even a reduced level of productivity are all
results of poor physical fitness and low levels of daily activity. The best way
to combat these issues is to invest in resources that enable you to work
smarter, not harder.

Online tools like Canada Writers, Grammarly, and WriteLoad are great ways to do this by improving your productivity so that you can get more done in less time. Set a time you want to be finished by, and then use your new tools to ensure you make it happen.

Impulse buys that derail any long-term
planning

Impulse buys are tempting, mostly because they are fun. To keep a close eye on things, we recommend introducing a 7-day waiting period. The chances are that by the time is up, you won’t even remember what it was you had to have that instant just 1 week ago.

Buying coffee on the way to work every day

Coffee is something millions of us buy but for
the sake of a few dollars a day what are getting that you can’t get at home
with a little practice? Calculate how much you will spend in a typical month,
and then imagine this is the amount you’re being asked to pay for that first
cup of coffee tomorrow morning. Then remember that if you walk on by, you’ll
soon have all of that money sat in your savings.

“I’m a big coffee drinker, but I’ve been amazed at how much I’ve saved by cutting down. Now I just buy one cup on my way to work on payday as a little treat” — says Simon Lamper, Head of Finance at Paper Writing Service.

Opting to skip the bulk buying offers in the
supermarket

Supermarkets offer bulk buys all the time, so why don’t you take advantage of them? The great thing about buying in bulk is that if you pick a couple of different things a week, you can easily build up a significant addition to your savings. Browsing the offers online before you go to the store is the best way to do it in a structured and targeted manner.

Not using Amazon’s subscribe and deals website

Subscribing and saving on Amazon is a great way to save money on those everyday household nonperishables like dishwasher tablets and laundry liquid. It only takes a couple of clicks, and you can start saving anywhere from 5-15% with every subsequent order. Plus, they’ll deliver it at a set time every month too. And don’t forget to take advantage of those deals website for great discounts and vouchers. There are over 40,000 discounted products between 30%-99% off on Vipon everyday, you will save dozens of hours and hundreds of dollars by shopping on Vipon.com.

Putting off small home maintenance jobs

Put off a small job, and it will just become a big job. The issue here is that it will then take 10 times as much time, money, and effort to fix as it would have done had you taken care of it straight away. Be pragmatic, and ensure you stay on top all these annoying little jobs.

Smoking and drinking

If you want to find a simple approach to saving, then you need to start examining all of those little habits you’ve gotten into over the years. Smoking and drinking are two of the most common examples, and yet millions of us would never think about quitting or cutting back purely to save money. If you calculate how much you’ll spend in a year, what you could spend it on instead, plus all of the health benefits, then it becomes something of a no-brainer.

Taking your phone to bed at night

When you get into bed, it’s really time to sleep. Taking your phone with you may seem like second nature, but why do you need to lie there on social media or YouTube for 2 hours? Your mind and body are tired, which means you need to disconnect and power down for the night. Buy an old school alarm clock, leave your charger in the living room, and get the uninterrupted full night’s sleep you need to be productive.

Buying the most expensive clothes you can
afford

Shopping for the most expensive outfit you can afford is natural because it will typically mean you get something of higher quality. What you need to think about, however, is whether or not it’s necessary. Give yourself a 7 day cooling off period, during which you only look at cheaper outfits from more affordable stores. This will often be all you need to persuade yourself that stuff on sale for half the price is just as good.

Final Thoughts

Now that you’ve seen 10 of the everyday habits that are costing you money, you need to start changing things. Make one change a day, and in less than 2 weeks you’ll notice a real change to the monthly outlay. Once you get it under control, you’ll be amazed at how quickly your savings start to grow.

Mothers Day is around the corner and we all know she deserves the best. What are you planning to do this Mothers Day? Every year, millions of families across the world take to the cities, parks, and beaches to celebrate the Day of Mothers. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg in order to have a Grade A adventure on Mothers Day. What makes this day special is your creativity, and passion for building a stronger bond. Like they say, “The Best Things in Life are Free”. If you are looking for some surefire ways to save money on Mothers Day, keep reading…

Have a Special Private Dinner at Home

Nothing beats having a deliciously cooked meal in the comfort of your own home. The privacy, and intimacy of your home can set the tone for a great night. Not only will you save money but delicious leftovers might be in your future. Spark a few candles, and lay out the full spread. Make sure you go big. A great way to surprise your mother is to throw in a special gift at the end of the night.

Enjoy
Creative Activities

Enjoying activities as a family is a great way to pass the time and save money. The more creative you can be, the better time you will have. Take for example lunch on the beach. An assortment of sandwiches, and snacks can last a whole day on the beach, and cost virtually nothing. Don’t forget to bring along a waterproof Bluetooth Speaker to crank up the tunes. Staying on the beach until the sunset breaks past the horizon is a time honored activity. Have fun!

Bake a
Special Creation for your Mother

Breakout the cake mix. Things are about to get sweet! Everyone loves a tasty treat. When you bake something for another person, it shows how much you love and care for them. Plan an entire ceremony around the unveiling of your cake. This micro fiesta can really turn your Mothers Day into a special evening. Take advantage of the hottest deals by giving a gift along with your cake. Something like these baking essentials will be an ironic, yet practical gift from the heart.

Choose Discounted Products on VIPON

Nothing says I love you more than a thoughtful gift from the heart. There are over 40,000 discounted products between 30%-99% off on VIPON everyday. Take advantage of these great discounts, and vouchers to give your mom the best gift possible. You will save dozens of hours and hundreds of dollars by shopping on Vipon.com. or buy a beautiful dress as gift to mom, come check out or selection now.

Now you
have the secret for enjoying Mother’s Day without breaking the bank

As a mother, you don’t have to leave it up to the kids. Mothers can also take the initiative to bake a special cake, plan a trip to the beach, search online for discounted products, and find creative ways to save money during mother’s day. This blog is just a guide. There are more ways that you can have a great time without spending too much money. Use your creativity, and everything will work out!

No matter the salary you make or your overall household income, chances are that saving comes to your mind frequently. After all, you never know when a rainy day might come and you will have to use some of your savings fund to stay afloat. This is where savings apps and budget planning come in handy, especially with 2019 well underway.

According to statistics published by CNBC, 57% of Americans have less than $1000 in their bank accounts with many of them claiming to be in debt due to one reason or another. Saving funds quickly became a necessity due to the high-speed modern world we live in. With that in mind, let’s take a look at several online money-saving tips which can help you make ends meet in 2019 and further down the line.

Start a consistent savings habit: little and often is better than a lump sum

The first thing you should know about savings is that it doesn’t involve not eating or not going out ever again. Consistent saving is a great idea, especially at first. You can put small lumps of change aside and make a habit out of it.

Pat Fredshaw, head of the content department at Essay Supply had this to say on the matter: “We have a small plate next to the front door and we all try to put a few coins into it on a daily basis. At the end of the month, we tally up what we’ve gathered and put it into the family piggy-bank, satisfied with our spending restraint.”

Buy in bulk: make use of discounts on bulk buys

Buying goods in bulk is much cheaper than buying a single product at a time. This is especially true for supermarket goods and general household necessities. You can save a lot of money each month by visiting the local market once or twice a month and buying goods in bulk. The same logic can be applied to second-hand clothing, fresh fruit, and vegetables as well as other expendable goods.

Sign up to rewards cards: make money for being a loyal customer

Reward cards can provide you not only with discounts but free goods altogether. Retail establishments such as Starbucks and McDonald’s offer very tempting loyalty programs for recurring customers.

Veronica Wright, a CEO of resumescentre.com was quoted recently: “I’ve made sure that our company offers loyalty discounts and incentives for recurring clients to come back for more services. This has created a great second-hand revenue source for us, making the loyalty program’s existence a no-brainer.”

Collect stamps, points or whatever your favorite store has on offer on a regular basis. Reward cards can provide you with a nice plan B in terms of non-monetary savings. Cash in on your loyalty by using the reward cards in smart ways, especially when you are short on funds.

Add a budgeting app on your phone: no more impulse buys

Thanks to the online revolution of the previous few years in terms of mobile application development, budgeting apps have become commonplace. Apps such as Mint and Wally are perfectly suited for small-time savings management as well as to help you keep track of debts and payments.

These apps are perfectly suited for impulse buyers and individuals who generally don’t think twice before buying something they like at first glance. Make sure to install an app of your choice and use it on a regular basis to get a hold of your spending and saving habits quickly.

Monthly vs. annual charges: make use of lower annual charges for services

On-demand services such as Netflix or Lynda can become notorious if you want to keep track of your spending. They are particularly problematic if your savings take a hit because of a monthly fee or two you have pending. This can be avoided by using services which offer annual flat fees for their clients’ convenience.

You will not only breathe easier by paying once for a year in advance but you will also save a ton of money in doing so. This is because services often offer very lucrative discounts for customers who commit to them for extended periods.

Purchase last year’s range: pay less for clothes that you still love

Depending on your fashion sense and the social circles you frequent, you can skip new clothing lines and opt for last year’s models. After all, no one will force you to wear the latest and greatest fashion lines, especially with money-saving troubles looming over you.

As we’ve previously mentioned, you can also check out local second-hand shops and discover very cool and well-kept clothing for a fraction of the price. Be a patient customer when it comes to clothing and apparel – your wallet will thank you for it immensely.

Flash sales can be great money-savers depending on what websites you like to buy from. Popular sales website such as Amazon feature flash deals, discounts, bulk deals, and last-minute sales campaigns almost daily.

Jessica Fender, a chief marketing officer at Online writers rating spoke on the matter: “We realize that flash deals and one-time discounts work wonders for online customers. It’s why we have very appealing, affordable and quality services on offer very frequently at competitive prices.”

Be sure to follow several websites in whichever item category you like and make sure to subscribe to email alerts. While you may not have your dream accessory or house appliance tomorrow, you might have it a week or two down the line for chunk change compared to the original price.

Shop on comparison sites: save money on holidays, phones, etc.

Lastly, you should never make an online purchase without considering a comparison with other websites. Platforms such as Google Shopping are equipped to showcase competitive price ranges for items you may be interested in.

You can use this data to make a more informed and affordable decision when it comes to saving some money while shopping. Comparison websites show their true value during holiday sales seasons so make sure to keep checking for new offers every now and then.

In Conclusion

Combining these tips in 2019 and beyond should leave you with a hefty savings fund to look forward to. Think twice before making any purchase decision online, especially with so many competing websites and storefronts out there.

Before you know it, you will have a personal money-saving system to fall back on any time you become short on funds. Spend less today so that you can feel safer with your monetary wellbeing tomorrow. And don’t forget to check out some of our amazing Amazon deals while you are here at VIPON !

Turns out Spring Break isn’t just for the kids after all! Grab your swim gear, slather on the sunscreen, and let’s party!

But wait, isn’t spring break supposed to be expensive?

Not at all…

Although the holiday might make you think of expensive airline tickets and hotel reservations, there are actually plenty of active and affordable ways to spend your Spring Break without breaking the bank. Before hitting the road make sure you check out these top tips to save on Spring Break this year, have a great time, and make some memories with the whole family.

Let’s have a look at a few of useful apps first.

Hopper – Analyze information from thousands of flights with this flight price forecasting APP, simply plug in your date and destination and Hopper’s deep learning algorithm will try to estimate the cheapest time to buy your ticket.

Tripit – Compile your travel itinerary in one convenient place, you can enter your travel costs and Tripit will automatically create a budget and saving plan for your holiday.

Cool Cousin – Connect with local tour guides all around the world. Your local guide will happily show you around the city of your choice, give you an authentic (and hopefully cheaper) experience.

And now for a few saving rules in general…

Don’t forget to check online!

It may seem obvious but don’t forget to look for deals on local restaurants and activities no matter where you end up, during peak holiday season all sorts of businesses love to begin advertising online and it’s the perfect time to find some bargains.

Always Compare Prices!

Spring break is a competitive time in the tourism industry. Hundreds of companies will be fighting for your attention and business. Don’t forget to compare prices and if you get the chance, try speaking to customer support and playing companies against each other to find a better deal.

Take advantage of last minute discounts!

The majority of people will tell you to book your holidays way in advance in order to secure the largest savings. However, if you aren’t the type to worry too much about where you’re going, you can wait until the last minute to find some fantastic savings and discounts on travel.

Plan & Research everything

Somewhat counter intuitive to our lastpoint, even if you are planning to leave the actual booking of your holiday till the last minute then it still might not be a terrible idea to research and plan possible vacation venues. Have kids? Find out what restaurants offer family or group meal discounts? Grandpa and Grandma coming along? Make sure you make full use of that seniors discount.

Focus on yourself and not the kids!

Make sure to pick a destination that you and your spouse or friends are going to enjoy. Kids are easy to please and will be just as happy building sandcastles on a small scenic beach as they will be on a $2000+ trip to disneyland. Children are often happiest when their parents are happy too, pick somewhere that’s good fit for the grownups before giving into the whim of the kids.

Reducing your home energy costs isn’t as complicated as you might think, huge savings can be accomplished from simple changes you can easily start making yourself, there’s really no reason not to start today!

Start reducing your energy cost today to see a huge impact on your yearly spending and do your part towards reducing your impact on the planet.

Heating & Cooling.

The #1 culprit for excess spending around the house has always been heating & cooling.

Air conditioning and heating systems are expensive to run and care should always be taken not to waste them.

Ceiling fans can be used as a cheap alternative to AC, circulating air will keep your home fresh and cool without the high costs air conditioning brings.

Convection powered heating fans can be used with traditional hot stoves and open fires to circulate warm air effectively around the home.

Thick ‘blackout’ curtains can be used to insulate your houses windows, trap heat during the winter & cool air during the summer.

Programmable thermostats can be used to keep the temperature in your home regulated reducing costs over time.

Long live the LED, incandescent is dead.

If you are still using regular incandescent lighting in 2019 then this is for you.

LED lighting uses on average 90% less energy than traditional incandescent lighting.

LED lighting experiences less malfunctions, requires less replacement, and has a longer average lifespan per product.

LED lighting lasts on average 10x longer than it’s incandescent brother.

Insulate Everything!

Households can lose up to a third of their total heat through badly insulated window frames, roofs, and doors.

Talk to your local contractor to find out more about how you can start weather proofing and insulating your house.

Doors & windows can be lined with draft protectors to create a tight seal and prevent leaks.

Conservative Kitchen Cooking is Key.

That sure is a mouthful to say! Take a bite out of your energy spending by changing the way you cook and use your kitchen.

Convection over conventional. Studies show that convection ovens use up to 20% less energy when compared to conventional ovens that do not circulate their air.

Reheat in the microwave, although we don’t recommend using it for every meal your microwave uses 80% less energy than your conventional oven and is perfect for reheating food, soups, and leftovers.

Pressure cookers and crock pots are your friends. Covered pressurised cooking reduces the energy required and tastes delicious! There are thousands of easy recipes available online.

Take advantage of new low-flow toilet technology.

Advances in toilet technology have led to some fantastic opportunities to save on energy spending.

Low-flow showerheads & rain style showers use significantly less water compared to bathing and traditional showers.

Dual-flush toilets allow the user to select a heavy or light flush depending on the ‘package’.

Low-flow toilets use up to 50% less water than traditional toilets making them the biggest opportunity to save on water in the household. They work by using pressurized flushing systems or powerful vacuum chambers.

Alright everyone, that wraps up our top tips for energy saving around the home in 2019. We hope you continue to have a fantastic frugal year. And don’t forget to check out some of our amazing Amazon deals while you are here at VIPON !

We love our furry four-legged friends here at Vipon, but they sure are expensive! Our office doggo GoGo is constantly barking for new treats and toys, even after his long walks around the city. With thousands of pet products and fads on offer, it can be hard to decide what’s necessary spending and what isn’t so we’ve put together our short guide on our essential pet spending tips and tricks. Here’s our guide to smart pet spending. Lets keep our four-legged friends as happy as our wallets will be after seeing these incredible saving opportunities.

Rule #1 – Don’t Follow The Herd.

Saving is a state of mind– You can’t jump on every pet fad and trend without thinking how it will affect you wallet. We are looking at you expensive geometric hairstyles!

Nutritional fads such as grain free food or 100% meat diets may seem attractive but will create additional costs you want to avoid. Before starting your pet on any diet you should do you research and contact your veterinarian to ensure the safety of your pet.

Grooming trends such as ‘pawdicure’ and fur-dying are also probably worth skipping, these expensive procedures, while looking great, are often not worth the cost and in the worst case scenario can damage your pet’s health. We recommend steering clear of this garish animal fashion altogether, and sticking to relaxing home grooming.

Rule #2 – Spend Smarter On Food.

Finding, Feeding, Preparing – We know you guys are already adept online shoppers, so when buying pet food make sure to check out your favourite online retailers and stores. Amazon is a fantastic place to buy bulk pet food for cheap prices and you already know you can find some fantastic discounts here with Vipon. Remember to always buy in bulk! Pet food is made to last for months, maybe even years. Dry food can have an especially long lifetime.

Compare Serving Sizes – Often high-quality pet food brands will require a much smaller serving size due to the fact that they contain more of the nutrients and fuel your pet needs. In addition to this, overfeeding your pet is dangerous and can be extremely detrimental to their long term health. Make sure you check nutritional values or you’ll end up with a Tubby Tom Cat or a Chubby Chihuahua.

Rule #3 – Avoid The Vet!

Know When To Go – We aren’t saying don’t go to the vet if your pet’s sick!Of course if your pet has a medical condition seeking professional assistance should be the first thing on your mind. However, when it comes to buying treats, food, toys and even medication you can potentially save thousands of dollars a year shopping outside your vet’s office.

Make Your Own Toys – There are thousands of resources available online for cunning crafty types to make their own pet toys and games. Take advantage of this wealth of resources and information by making your own fun and saving a few dollars at the same time.

Make Your Own Treats – The same as the toys, a quick search online reveals too many diy pet treat recipes and guides to count! If you prefer the kitchen over the workshop then this might be the more attractive choice to you.

BONUS RULE #4

Brush Their Teeth!!! – Looking back on GoGo’s pet expenses over the years nothing has cost us more than his teeth! Expensive vet appointments, operations, medication, follow-ups and so much more – what a headache! – If you only pay attention to one tip in this whole article then let it be this. Brush your pet’s teeth, pay attention to their health, and groom them to enjoy a happy life time together.

We hope you and all your animal buddies are having a fantastic time and can learn to save together thanks to these helpful pet saving tips and tricks.

When we think of Valentine’s Day we think of chocolates, expensive dinners, wine, flowers, and giant soft toys – it’s no surprise that the average American will spend an average of $140 on their partner every year!

We don’t think love should be based on how much you spend, if you are looking for ways to cut costs in this New Year then here’s our guide to having a fun and romantic valentines day without blowing your budget.

Here are our top 5 ideas for Valentine’s savings. Keep the fire alive in your relationship and the balance healthy in your bank account.

Skip it!

Although this might not be the answer you are looking for, a lot can be said about rescheduling your celebration of love. Candy and similar Valentine’s Day items are likely to see huge discounts after the date. Take the day off and set a date in the future to take advantage of all that cheap candy and chocolate.

Home cooking.

Instead of shelling out for the usual restaurant experience and being rolled by expensive “holiday special” menus why not find an interesting recipe you both would love to cook together. Time spent in the kitchen together can reinforce relationships, build trust, and you might even get an edible meal from it.

Home spa.

This idea involves stocking up on some relatively cheap facial scrubs and masks and pampering the night away. Share stories treat each other to foot rubs, oil treatments, and back massages and you will be seeing the romance in no time at all. There are many recipes for homemade scrubs and treatments available online.

DIY present.

Show your love with a custom handmade gift – it can be anything from a painting to a coupon book, or even an old school mixtape (maybe a Soundcloud mix?). You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to show someone you love them, just some well-spent time and effort will go a long way to showing how much you care.

Hunt for coupons.

Start preparing early and search sites for activity coupons and giveaways – if you are looking for gift coupons then there is no better place than Vipon, but, there are also hundreds of sites out there that offer discounts on relaxing day spa’s, couples activities, and more.

Whatever you choose to do this Valentine’s Day, we hope you do it with love in your heart. Have an amazing day, and if you haven’t found someone to share it with yet, don’t worry, you still have plenty of time!

— New Year’s resolutions are a fantastic way to begin addressing your finances and start saving. Let’s make 2019 a year of financial stability, set solid goals and improve our quality of life together. —

We are all used to making New Year’s resolutions, no more junk food, quit smoking, exercise more – sometimes we keep them, sometimes we don’t – This year we want to help you make a resolution – and keep it – that will affect all aspects of your life in a positive way.

Good budgeting and financial restraint reach much further into our lives than just our wallet. It gives us a sense of security for the future, reduces anxiety, and develops logical and organized thinking.

Make sure you go into 2019 with the right mindset for financial freedom and peace of mind.

Split Up That Christmas Bonus

Often we receive relatively large sums of money around Christmas time, from presents to bonuses, and gifts. We like to use the rule of thirds to split up these amounts and make sure we don’t splurge it all on eggnog in one night.

The rule goes as follows, one-third goes to past debts, one-third goes to treating yourself in the present, and one-third goes into saving for the future. Just think of ‘A Christmas Carol’s’ three ghosts and you won’t have any trouble remembering.

Ditch The Credit Cards

Credit cards are a recipe for disaster, they offer quick and easy purchases with no immediate negative impact on your finances. It’s easy to rack up hundreds of dollars of debt if you don’t keep an eye on those credit balances and find yourself spiraling out of control.

We recommend keeping one hidden at the bottom of your darkest deepest sock drawer and using it only for real emergencies. Don’t spend what you don’t have! Carrying cash only will reduce impulse purchases and force you to budget your weekly walking-around money.

Stick To A Budget

Budgeting doesn’t mean creating pages and pages of fancy bar graphs and charts. You can make a good start by writing down your monthly expected spendings on everyday items such as food and household supplies and working out an amount to save month-on-month.

There are thousands of Apps available to help you budget and plan your savings, spend a night downloading them and finding out which ones suit your lifestyle. Even a small effort made towards planning future spending and savings will make you more mindful of your spending.

Put Together An Emergency Fund

Surprise expenses always come at the worst times. Whether it’s a car repair, medical bills, or god forbid losing your job we want to be ready for these surprise spendings without it affecting our monthly budget.

A good rule of thumb is to add up your monthly spendings – which we should have already put together in our budget – and multiply that number by three. This money will assure we can get through rough months without worrying about losing our basic conveniences.

Cook More, Takeout Less

Takeouts may be yummy but those expenses add up fast. The average American eats an average of 4.2 commercially prepared meals per week, that’s a whopping 18.2 meals per month for a total average of $232/month!

Cooking is a lifelong skill that is rewarding to learn and share with your loved ones. You can impress potential partners, treat your family, or just prepare wholesome comfort food for yourself when you’re feeling down. Save more and develop a skill that will prove it’’s worth time and time again.

Generate Some Side Income

Developing extra income is a fantastic way to spend your spare time and boost your monthly earnings. Even an extra $100-$200 a month can go great lengths in helping pay rent, groceries or paying off past debts.

Find a profitable skill that you can work on in your spare time – bonus points if it’s a creative skill – There’s nothing more rewarding than developing and mastering your own skills while also bolstering your financial situation.

Amazon, without any doubt, is one of the major online shopping platforms out there. It is used by millions of people all over the globe to shop anything under the sun online and get them delivered at their doorsteps. It offers enhanced convenience for people who cannot go out to shop as they can order anything right from the comfort of their home.

On the flipside, this blessing comes with a side-effect as well. Due to lucrative deals available at Amazon, people tend to get carried away and end up overspending. Thus, their budget disturbs greatly. If you are guilty of online shopping more than you require and want to save money on Amazon purchases, we have got your back. This article sheds light on effective ways you can follow to save money while shopping on Amazon. Continue reading!

Keep a Tab on Today’s Deals

Daily deals offered at Amazon is a great way to go on an online shopping spree while keeping your budget in check. Keep checking the deal of the day on daily basis. Who knows you may find the items you were looking to buy for a long time at the cheapest rates.

Subscribe and Save Program

It another great way to save money while online shopping on Amazon. You can earn discounts by signing up to this program and buy the products you require at cheaper rates. With this program, you can also get free shipping facility; thus, double the bonanza as you can save shipping and order cost both by signing up to this program.

Subscribe to Amazon Prime

You may have this question how Amazon Prime links to saving money on Amazon shopping when its subscription costs $99 annually. Don’t worry as we have got the answer for you. Not many people are aware of the fact that they can save money by subscribing Amazon Prime’s free trial. During this 30-day trial period, users can enjoy special discounts on Amazon shopping. The added bonus here is that you can also get a two-day free shipping benefit. It is important to know that this offer can be availed for one time only and make sure you have canceled the subscription before the free trial ends otherwise you will be charged the annual subscription amount on your card.

Use Amazon for Donation Purposes

You can not only use Amazon for online shopping but donating to any cause you support as well. This can help you to save money on donations you make separately. Wondering how? if you are using this platform to make donations, 0.5% of your total order’s value will be donated to the cause you are supporting. It is to be noted that not all products listed on Amazon are eligible for donation. Thus, you need to visit smile.amazon.com to see the eligible products. When it comes to charities and causes, there are millions to choose from on Amazon.

Amazon Student Account

As the name suggests, this one is for students. By creating an Amazon student account, you can enjoy special features and benefits for a 6-month period. These benefits include two-day shipping free of cost and unlimited photo storage etc. The benefits will not end even after the trial period has ended as your upgradation to Amazon Prime account will be halved as well.

Put Your Old Stuff to Use

Who knew their old stuff can come to use in such an effective, money-saving way!

Amazon offers trade-in option for people. You can send your old products to Amazon and receive gift cards in returns. These gift cards can then be redeemed for online shopping on Amazon and getting a discount on your desired products.

Amazon Store Card

This is an easy way of saving money while online shopping on Amazon. There is no requirement to explore different deals, look for a discount or use a coupon to save money by following this method. If you are a regular shopper on Amazon, you must have at this cost. It literally costs nothing as there is no annual fee. The basic advantage of this card is that you save 5% on anything you buy.

Save For Later

Sometimes waiting can prove to be useful! Same is the case here. This is another trick you can use to buy a product at discounted rates. If you have ticked saved for a later option for a product, Amazon will keep you notified about its availability on lowered rates. So, all those products that you do not require on urgent basis, use save for later option and get them at discounted rates.

It is an Amazon deal site. Considered to be the most reliable sites, you can save quite a lot of money (50% – 99% off) if you are a frequent Amazon shopper. This site features of thousands of products in a diverse range of categories with amazing discounts. Moreover, you can find very cheap deals on VIPON.

To enjoy the discounted deals on VIPON, all you have to do is to create an account, which is extremely easy to make. Once you have made an account, just sign in and explore numerous products to buy them at the cheapest possible rates. Right from household products to electronics, tech gadgets to beauty products, clothing to books, you can find them all at VIPON. This website is no less than a blessing for avid Amazon shoppers as they can buy anything they want without burning a hole in their pockets.

A Final Word

There you have it! These are some of the tried and tested ways to buy the items you desire at the rates you are willing to pay. The most useful out of the lot is creating an account on VIPON. It is fun to use, addictive, and of course, every shoppers’ paradise. Hurry, create an account on VIPON, and get 50% – 99% off on thousands of products.

“Why do I always spend so much at the supermarket?” This question is asked countless times by countless others every day.

No matter how hard you try it seems like you’re always just a teeny bit over budget. Don’t worry Vipon is here to help you save money offline as well!

We have put together a list of some of our favorite hint & tips to help you save more on your weekly shop.

1. Never go food shopping when you are hungry. When we are hungry our mood changes, we make bad decisions, and we end up with a shopping basket full of chocolate cookies.

2. If there is a chance to buy in bulk then take it! Stock up when you see a deal and plan for the future. Having a cellar full of tinned tomatoes might raise an eyebrow from some of your friends but at least you’re prepared for anything!

3. Watch use-by dates carefully and freeze food that will be going out of date. The more you can reduce your food wastage the more you will save.

4. Shop around! Don’t just trust that your local Costco has the best deals, get out there and start comparing. Big chains are often very competitive with their pricing and you will definitely find some great deals.

5. Create a list of the top 20 things you buy every week and compare prices in your local stores. Smaller independent stores may be willing to adjust prices in order to keep your business.

6. Search for easy to cook and freeze recipes. Meal prepping can save you a huge amount of money in the long run.

7. Find a local butcher and try to buy non-pre-packaged meat. It’s often cheaper and better quality than its supermarket cousin.

8. Find out when the veggies you like are in season. Vegetables will often be placed on sale or cheaper when they are plentiful.

9. Create a herb garden! Not only is this a great hobby but it also will give you an almost endless supply of one of the top 10% most expensive shopping items.

11. Plan your meals for the week and create a concise shopping list. knowing when and what you are going to eat means less mid-week shops for missing items and fewer impulse buys.

12. Coupons! Write to your favorite brands and ask for coupons, cut them out of magazines, download them from the internet. Coupons will always be one of the most effective ways to find the best discount online and offline.

Online shopping is a magical experience for most people. It is, in fact, a money saver all by itself. But Amazon upped the game with its success and continuous expansion of both items and consumers.

If we have convinced you to finally start, or get more involved with, shopping on Amazon, here are some life-saving and money-saving tips:

1. Keep it in your cart.

This trick has been around for years now and is actually applicable not just on Amazon but also on some other sites as well. Load up your cart with your items, but don’t check out, even if you’re itching to click that tempting “checkout” button. Let a few days go by, and Amazon will notify you of your seemingly forgotten loaded cart. You’d be surprised that some of the items in your cart have been discounted. I have to warn you though, THIS IS NOT THE CASE EVERY TIME. But there’s no harm in trying, right?

2. Never pass on checking out ‘Today’s Deals’ section.

The ‘Today’s Deal’ section is not the one that automatically pops up on their homepage (this is usually the current season’s item suggestions) so people ignore it most of the time. But it is located in the top menu section, so it can’t be that hard to miss. The reason why people usually pass on it is it is most unlikely that they will find what they are looking for in there. But what if fate is being kind to you and you can score what you are looking for in the ‘Today’s Deal’ section? It would be a real shame if you missed out on an awesome opportunity. The ‘Today’s Deal’ section offers specific items at great discounts, but only for a limited amount of time.

3. Amazon gift cards for trade-ins.

Do you have sellable item that you are no longer using? You can trade them in in exchange for Amazon gift cards. As long as your item is in good condition, with minimal defects and issues, it is totally eligible for selling again. You cannot get cash but Amazon gift cards can still do you good when online shopping. And besides, trading in is like getting free cash (well, cash in the form of an Amazon gift card). You’d be surprised at how many people are hunting for vintage finds on Amazon.

4. Try purchasing used items.

The opposite of the previous item on this list, you can opt to settle for pre-loved items being sold on Amazon. Amazon backs you up when you get defective used items (just in case) but so far, a lot of people are satisfied. If you are ever unlucky, you can return it free of charge. But for your own safety, be persevering enough to thoroughly read through the used item’s description.

5. Take advantage of the $25 minimum for free shipping.

Pile up your items (that is, if they are not needed in a hurry) on your shopping list before ordering so you can easily reach the minimum $25 eligibility for free shipping. If you have all your items and they still don’t reach the minimum $25, look around the house and see what you’ve been missing. Usual household items can be added, as they are sure to be used. If you’re almost out of shampoo, add that to your cart. Another option is choosing gift cards for stores or establishments that you frequent. Just be sure that you will not impulsively choose the additional items just to hit the minimum.

6. Do not ignore the add-on suggestions when checking out.

Sure, the add-on suggestions when you’re checking out may not always be valuable items, but like the previous tip, think about whether they are something that you can use. The suggestions always vary, and if they are especially cheap, why not try purchasing them? The add-on suggestion appears when you’ve finally hit that $25 minimum, and if the suggestions are good deals, you can always go for a bit more than the minimum.

7. Sign up for ‘Save & Subscribe’.

If you’re regularly buying everyday essentials from Amazon, sign up for their ‘Save & Subscribe’ program for convenience. With it, they offer free shipping and an extra 15% off (20% for Amazon Prime members) your entire order if you have 5 items or more. Also, you would just be placing your subscription order once and they will routinely delivery them to you on your preferred schedule. They even send you any applicable discounts for your upcoming deliveries.

8. Price change refunds.

Perhaps everyone is familiar with the annoying situation of seeing a great price drop for an item we recently purchased. You could have saved money had you been a little more patient with your purchase. Amazon offers you a solution: you can get a refund for the excess amount you have paid for your recent purchase. This method is usually applicable to items sold and shipped by Amazon and not by independent sellers doing transactions on Amazon. Though a lot of customers say that this one rarely works (or that Amazon may have probably discontinued this policy), there are still a few who reportedly get refunds for their higher-priced, recently-bought items. Some say the trick here is to be persistent (but still in a good and non-demanding way) when in communication with Amazon’s customer support.

9. Make use of deal & coupon.

Deal sites save you time by going through Amazon for the lowest price point as well as looking for the best deals out there. Ultimately, they save you money which you can use to splurge for more items. Other advantages of deals & Coupon sites like Vipon are:

✔ All the best deals on the Internet are found on one single site. You don’t have to spend hours browsing through various sites just to land on the best ones. This ultimately saves you time and money for your data consumption.

✔ Deal sites offer not only coupons and promos for online retailers, but also physical restaurants and other outlets like clothing, electronics, food, etc.

✔ You can find secret deals and coupons on deal sites that are not available on the seller’s website. Patience pays off greatly when looking for hidden deals and coupons for various online shopping sites and brands that takes off some of the total of your purchased items or maybe scores you free shipping.

10. Pre-order Price Guarantee.

Amazon lets you pre-order soon-to-be-released items. With its highly competitive streak, they offer the lowest prices on the market. In case of a price drop upon an item’s release, they give you a refund for the excess amount you have paid. They automatically give you back the refund through your credit or debit card.

11. Check out Amazon Warehouse and Amazon Outlet.

Amazon Warehouse and Amazon Outlet are a goldmine for people looking for exorbitant discounts and out-of-this-world deals. Amazon Warehouse is a place for returned, used or damaged items that are still worthy of being sold. You can even filter out the conditions of the items for easy navigation. Amazon Outlet, on the other hand, offers you new items, but at great discounts due to markdowns and overstocks.

12. Spend time browsing through the Amazon Coupons page.

Amazon coupons are a godsend for everyone. Amazon offers a multitude of coupons for a multitude of items. Imagine how much you can save when you found the lowest price offer for an item and then you also found a coupon for it! Just clip the coupon and add the item to your cart, and the discount coupon will automatically apply at checkout. Regularly browse through theAmazon Coupons’ pageto score great discounts.

13. Use Amazon Prime…but with a twist.

With Amazon Prime, you can get a hold of loads of special discounts that are not offered with a regular Amazon membership account. The notable benefits are the two-day delivery, access to a whole slew of movies and music, and unlimited storage for your photos. There are two loopholes to experience Amazon Prime temporarily. The first one is signing up for one-month free trial for Amazon Prime and canceling your membership before it expires. Enjoy the Amazon Prime benefits for less than a month and then dodge the annual membership fee by canceling. The second one applies if you are a student. You can register using your student email (ends with .edu) and you can have access for free for 6 months. Just like the first one, you can cancel before your free trial expires, but Amazon offers you half off the membership fee if you ever wish to continue. So while you’re on free access, load up your cart and shop as much as you can.

14. Share your Amazon Prime account with family members.

Amazon Prime allows you to share some of its features to your family members so they can join in on the benefits. You can add up to six family members and you can even ask them to split the annual membership fee with you to save money! No more using each other’s personal Amazon accounts for purchasing items.

15. Get free one-month extension for your Amazon Prime membership.

Don’t be too patient when Amazon Prime has some delays with your package/s. They actually offer you compensation for it – they extend your Amazon Prime membership for one, and it’s free of charge. Just contact their customer support hotline and they’d be happy to offer you this deal.

Moreover, here are some reasons why you should shop at Amazon:

There’s a reason why they are Number 1 – It’s really simple, a company as big Amazon has amassed a large number loyalists because of their impeccable service. Its popularity is a result of more than a decade of good business and service to its customers who eventually spread Amazon’s greatness through reviews and recommendations.

They have EVERYTHING – As mentioned earlier, Amazon practically sells anything that you could ever think of. It’s basically a one-stop shop for everything. They started out as an online bookstore and eventually expanded to the Amazon we know today. They routinely update their inventory with the freshest stock and latest items to sell.

Low Prices – Seeing as how they have the largest inventory as an online retailer, it is only natural that they also have the cheapest price point in the market. Amazon houses a lot of sellers who are competing with differing prices for the same products. Trust that you can almost always find the most competitive price point there.

Flawless Return Policies – Amazon made it effortless for you to return defective items (though not all items can be returned). You can get help from their Online Returns Center for any return transactions. Pack the item back in its original box (or get a new box if the original box had been disposed of already), and send it back with the return label attached. Check out their Return & Refundspage for more information.

Comfort – As with any online retailer, Amazon has made it easier for you to shop endlessly from the comfort of your home. You can save on gas and even airfare for travel trips just to get your hands on imported goods. With just your computer or smartphone, you can browse and buy with a single click or tap of your finger.

So, there you go! Some of the best tips when on a shopping spree on Amazon. Make the most of your money with these tips. It only takes a savvy shopper to conquer this famous online retailer that has a lot to offer their customers for an unmatched online shopping experience.